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Ilex aquifolium Handsworth New Silver - Common Holly

Ilex aquifolium 'Handsworth New Silver'
European Holly, Common Holly, English Holly, Evergreen Holly

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A beautiful variegated holly with a dense, pyramidal habit, whose young purple stems bear dark green leaves broadly edged with cream. Its discreet flowering in spring produces red berries if there is a male holly nearby. Grow in ordinary, rather moist, but well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade; hardiness –20 °C. This bush will be perfect for brightening up a shady corner of the garden.
Flower size
5 mm
Height at maturity
2 m
Spread at maturity
1.50 m
Exposure
Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

Ilex aquifolium ‘Handsworth New Silver’ is a variety of common holly variegated with creamy white, which structures, brightens, and animates the garden all year round. It is a female variety that fruits abundantly when a male common holly grows nearby; its red berries, set against its magnificent foliage, are decorative in winter. This large shrub for partial shade will find its place in an evergreen hedge or as a standalone specimen.

From the Aquifoliaceae family (which contains only hollies), this cultivar may also be found under the synonym Ilex aquifolium ‘Handsworth Silver’. The species, the common holly, is native to Europe (including France and the British Isles) and into Western Asia. It grows in woodland understories, on edges, and in moist, well-drained ravines. The name Ilex adopts the Latin designation for holly; aquifolium means "acute leaf". ‘Handsworth New Silver’ is a British horticultural selection dating from the 19th century (around 1850), maintained by cuttings/grafting; it has received the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the RHS. ‘Handsworth New Silver’ is cited in British horticultural floras as one of the best white-margined hollies.
This bush is dense, naturally pyramidal to conical, even bushy. Its growth is slow to moderate; at maturity, it measures 5 to 8 m tall with a spread of 2.50 to 4 m. At 10 years old, expect a height of 2 m and a width of 1.50 m. The evergreen leaves are elliptical to oblong, spiny at the margin, measuring up to 9 cm long; the dark green leaf is broadly margined with cream to white. In May-June, small, white, nectar-rich and lightly scented flowers are produced in the leaf axils. The berries are globular drupes of 5-6 mm, which become bright red in autumn and often persist into winter. The bark of this shrub turns grey with age; the young shoots are beautifully coloured reddish-purple. The root system is initially shallow, then deepens; large specimens are known to be delicate to transplant. ‘Handsworth New Silver’ is female; a plant of Ilex aquifolium ‘Silver Queen’, male, will allow good fruiting.

Use this holly ‘Handsworth New Silver’ in an informal hedge, spacing plants 1.50 to 2 m apart depending on the desired density, or as a standalone specimen. Its beautiful variegation and red fruits catch the eye in winter. It pairs well with winter-flowering shrubs or those with coloured wood. Choose, for example, Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’, Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’ and Sarcococca confusa. At their base, plant purple Hellebores or a small evergreen fern like Polypodium vulgare.
Common holly, an emblematic European tree, has been used for centuries for winter decoration. This bush can find a refuge on north-facing slopes, in the shade of the coolest woodland understories. 

 

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Holly: planting, pruning and care
Family sheet
by Eva 12 min.
Holly: planting, pruning and care
Read article

Plant habit

Height at maturity 2 m
Spread at maturity 1.50 m
Habit conical, pyramidal
Growth rate slow

Flowering

Flower colour insignificant
Flowering time May to June
Fragrance slightly scented,
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Fruit colour red

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour variegated with white
Product reference • 25085

Planting and care

To plant common holly Handsworth New Silver, add some potting soil with compost and incorporate it into your garden soil, to allow for easier and deeper rooting. It is a woodland species, found in lowlands and mountains up to 1500 metres in altitude, and tends to need a cool atmosphere in the southernmost regions of its range. The common holly prefers acidic soils and damp situations, but adapts to calcareous soils if the air humidity level is sufficient. This bush also dislikes overly cold situations and icy winds. Therefore, choose a shaded location in a warm climate, a bit more sunny in a cool region. Water for the first 3 years, especially in summer, in case of prolonged drought, to help the bush establish itself. It will then manage on its own, as it tolerates drought quite well.

Ilex can be attacked by holly leaf miner, white scale insects in spring, and mites and aphids in summer. Consider a preventive treatment at the start of the season.

 

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge, Undergrowth
Type of use Border, Back of border, Free-standing, Hedge
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Exposure Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Any deep soil

Care

Pruning instructions Pruning is not essential in an informal hedge, but can be beneficial for a shrub planted in isolation or grown in a container. Preferably prune at the end of summer, or in late winter.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

Planting & care advice

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