Ilex x koehneana Castaenifolia

Ilex koehneana 'Castaenifolia', also known as the Chestnut-leaved Holly, is a large variety with rapid growth, which is unusual for holly plants. It forms a large, sparsely branched pyramid in just a few years, adorned with beautiful dark green, glossy, spiny-edged leaves that resemble those of the chestnut tree. Its young spring shoots are often tinged with red. The female plants produce large numbers of lovely dark red berries from September to March. This holly prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil and tolerates drought well. It can be planted in full sun or partial shade, in a mixed hedge or as a specimen tree.

The Chestnut-leaved Holly is a hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding between Ilex aquifolium, the common holly of our forests, and Ilex latifolia, a Japanese species with immense leaves that also stands out for its tall stature. All these shrubs belong to the Aquifoliaceae family.

The 'Castaneifolia' variety quickly reaches a height of 4 to 6 meters (13 feet 1 inches to 19 feet 8 inches), or even more, with a spread of 2.50 to 4 meters (8 feet 2 inches to 13 feet 1 inches). It is also distinguished by its large, tough, elliptical leaves that are slightly undulate, dentate, and glossy. All hollies are dioecious plants, meaning that there are male and female subjects. Only the female plants bear berries, which are highly valued for their ornamental value. The female Chestnut-leaved Holly produces small, inconspicuous but nectar-rich flowers in spring, which will develop into abundant fleshy, ovoid deep red berries after fertilisation by a male holly planted nearby. Identifying the sex of the flowers requires a trained eye; they all have four white petals with purple tips, and their surface is waxy, but the male flowers can be recognized by their four prominent yellow stamens, while the female flowers have a short, oval green pistil. The same shrub can produce both male and female flowers, which cannot be pollinated. The seeds are dispersed by birds that love the fruits.

The fast-growing Ilex (x) koehneana 'Castaenifolia' will please gardeners in a hurry to create a brand new garden. It is perfect in a mixed hedge, alongside Eleagnus, Laurustinus, Coroneaster lacteus, Photinia serratifolia, or Mexican orange. It dislikes excessive limestone, which causes its beautiful foliage to yellow, and prefers well-drained, fairly fertile soil. Hardy well below -15°C, it thrives in semi-shaded to shaded areas, for example under trees or on the edge of woodlands, in a large natural garden. When planted as a specimen tree or shaped into a topiary, it becomes a focal point in winter. It can also be used in large pots. Plant it in Zen gardens alongside bamboo, Japanese maples, camellias...

Hollies are both loved and misunderstood plants. The genus comprises nearly 800 deciduous or evergreen species, generally native to the temperate northern hemisphere. These ancient plants have experienced periods of glaciation and dry, warm periods in our climate history, making them extremely adaptable and resistant. Their wood, white to cream-coloured, is very low in water, even when green. It is dense and heavy, yet soft and easy to work with in cabinetmaking. It is also an excellent fuel for heating, even when green. Finally, their foliage and (inedible) berries are rich in caffeine. A tea is made with their leaves in the Black Forest.