Ilex aquifolium 'HARPUNE' common holly, English holly

Harpune is another novelty among English hollies. It is a mutation of another variety called Alaska. The main difference is in the leaves which are not spiny along the margins, but only have a medium sharp tip. They are narrowly elliptic, mid to dark green and very glossy. Harpune is a female holly bearing vivid red berries in autumn and winter if a male pollinator is nearby. Recommended pollinators are: Myrtifolia, Blue Prince®, Casanova®.

It grows slowly and quite dense and may be pruned and shaped. In the spring, after danger of frost, prune it to encourage new growths, or you can shape it in mid summer.

Grow hollies in acidic, moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil. They like full sun or half shade, they can also live in full shade but will not be compact there. Cultivars with coloured leaves prefer partial shade in winter. Hollies have shallow, spreading roots so when planting it do not make a deep but wide hole. Provide extra watering in frost-free periods in winter to prevent from drying out before the ground gets frozen. Hardy to about -28°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 06-02-2009.