Variegated Holly – Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'

Add year-round elegance and festive charm with Variegated Holly. This beautiful ornamental evergreen tree features stunning glossy green leaves with bright cream-white margins, creating a luminous effect in the garden. In autumn, female plants produce bright red berries that persist through winter, providing valuable food for wildlife and adding seasonal colour. The distinctive prickly leaves also make it an excellent choice for security hedging.

Key Features

• Stunning Variegation: Glossy dark green leaves with bright cream-white margins create year-round visual interest
• Festive Red Berries: Bright red berries appear in autumn and persist through winter (on female plants)
• Evergreen: Maintains its attractive foliage throughout all seasons
• Security Planting: Prickly leaves provide an effective deterrent
• Wildlife Friendly: Berries provide essential winter food for birds
• Versatile: Perfect for hedging, specimen planting, or topiary
• Hardy: Tolerates most conditions including shade and coastal exposure

Growing Information

Ultimate Height: 8-12m (easily maintained at desired height with pruning)
Ultimate Spread: 4-6m
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Position: Full sun to full shade (best variegation in sun)
Soil: Well-drained, tolerates most soil types
Hardiness: Fully hardy (H5)

Planting & Care

Plant in spring or autumn in well-drained soil. Position in full sun for the best variegation, though it tolerates shade well. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring. Trim in late spring or summer to maintain shape — holly responds well to clipping for formal hedges or topiary. Remove any plain green shoots that appear to maintain variegation. Holly is dioecious (separate male and female plants) — this is a female variety that produces berries when a male pollinator is nearby. Mulch around the base to retain moisture.

Perfect For

• Formal and informal hedging
• Security planting and boundaries
• Specimen trees and focal points
• Topiary and shaped features
• Wildlife-friendly gardens
• Shady areas where other plants struggle
• Coastal gardens
• Christmas decorations and wreaths

Why Choose Variegated Holly?

Variegated Holly combines stunning year-round foliage colour with festive winter berries and practical security benefits. The bright cream margins create a luminous effect that brightens shady corners, while the evergreen nature provides constant screening. This is a long-lived, low-maintenance plant that becomes more beautiful with age, making it an excellent investment for your garden.