We all love the Holly bush, however it is extremely frustrating when they don’t form the berries which we have been eagerly awaiting. Try Holly JC Van Tol.

I have planted Holly bushes on a number of occasions, a male and a female form to ensure pollination and hopefully get a bush smothered in berries. Others which I have planted were said to be self pollinating, still never had success.

A couple of years ago, a friend which I help with in their garden was given a gift of two standard Hollies. The variety was (J C Van Tol) I planted these two self fertilizing forms of Holly in there front garden. In the second year after planting, both of these standard shrubs were smothered in berries come late Autumn.

I definitely intend getting this Holly for our own garden soon.

JC Van Tol  has dark green glossy leaves which are almost but not quite spineless. Stems are an attractive deep purple, and apparently JC is renowned for being an excellent berrier, (not such a word but I think there should be) This Holly is particularly suitable for coastal areas, good news for us Aberdonians, and is said to do well enough in a shady spot. I  think that I would plant it in a sunny position as is the plant above, I would feel more convinced that it would form berry’s.

The Holly which I planted is of course a standard, if you were to be interested in planting a hedge of this variety here is a

Mail order  (Shrub form only)   

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I will be so pleased like the most of you to see the end of this miserably cold harsh Winter. We had to cancel our Christmas family get together in Cheshire because of the Snow. At least the snow has now gone, however the hard frost has created numerous potholes on our roads, just waiting for the press and the public to kick off. The patching job which they do on these tarmac roads is always a very temporary fix. Tar! is this what you guys in America call (black top) I was reading a Dean Koontz book and he often referred to black top.

The greenhouses I have not been near for weeks. Just hoping the low temperature hasn’t destroyed some of the container grown perennials.

Myra I had to take to the emergency surgery on Sunday. She had a painful severe raised rash on the left hand side of her face going through to her head. Didn’t want to mess about, thought it was an infection which would require antibiotics. Turned out to be shingles, very nasty.

Oh my god, doom and gloom, promise not to be such a miserable git next time we talk.

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