Ilex 'J C Van Tol'

Ilex JC Van Tol is a superb evergreen female holly which has dark green, almost spineless leaves arrayed along purple stems amongst which it produces large crops of bright red berries in abundance in autumn and winter.  It's a self fertile variety which doesn't require a pollination partner to berry, but will sometimes berry better if it is near another variety.  Great for wildlife, and a rich source of food for birds, berrying hollies brighten the most dismal of winter days.  Happy in any moist but well drained soil, and perfectly hardy, J C Van Tol can in time reach 6m x 4m, but is rather slow growing and easy to keep trimmed to shape and size.  Holder of an RHS Award of Garden Merit.