Ilex aquifolium Madame Briot - Common Holly

Ilex aquifolium 'Madame Briot' is an old variety of female Common Holly with lovely evergreen foliage. Its prickly leaves are green bordered with gold. In winter, it serves as a backdrop to a bountiful fruiting of a bright red berries. Ornamental all year round, it will find its place in a natural garden, in an informal or defensive hedge, in undergrowth, or even in isolation. This variety is perfect for illuminating a somewhat dark corner of the garden.

Ilex aquifolium needs no introduction. It is widespread throughout Europe, from Scandinavia to the Caucasus, from southern Europe to North Africa, from Iran to northern Asia. This immense distribution area clearly underlines the remarkable adaptability of this bush. It is appreciated since time immemorial for the bright red fruiting that adorns the female in winter, a red perfectly highlighted by prickly dark and shiny green foliage. Hollies belong to the Aquifoliaceae family.

Ilex aquifolium 'Madame Briot' was selected by Charles Briot, head gardener at Trianon in Versailles towards the end of the 19th century. Like the species, it is a ubiquitous evergreen bush, loving deep soils and cool to moist areas, but also adapting to open spaces. It is quite polymorphous, depending on its habitat, adopting the appearance of a large conical bush 5m (16ft) high and 2m (7ft) wide, or the bushier habit of a small tree. This species has a slow growth rate. It takes root deeply in the soil, favouring the development of its root system before producing its branches. It is a large dioecious bush, meaning there are male-flowering and female-flowering individuals. The evergreen foliage is composed of tough leaves, 5 to 8cm (2 to 3in) long, polymorphous according to the age of the plant or its vigour. The edge of the leaves is undulate and dentate and has sharp thorns, especially towards the bottom and on the sterile stems. The lamina is very shiny dark green bordered with gold on top, much lighter and matte on the underside. Flowering takes place in May-June, in the leaf axil, in the form of small white to pink flowers, not exceeding 5mm (0.2in) in diameter. The flowers are honey-bearing and fragrant. The male flowers are gathered in clusters; the female flowers are solitary or grouped by 2 or 3. When pollination takes place, the female flowers turn into small globose, shiny, dark red to scarlet fruits, which are a delight for birds in winter. In the garden, birds scatter the seeds at random, and it is not uncommon to see countless small hollies sprouting here and there in the beds and under the big trees! The bark of this small tree is reddish green when young before taking on a grey colour and a smooth appearance. Common holly can live up to 400 to 500 years.

Ilex aquifolium 'Madame Briot' will satisfy amateur gardeners who love neat, unpretentious bushes, which remain beautiful all year round. It has the advantage of adapting to many growing conditions while bringing a sculptural touch to the garden. It will be attractive all year round, but especially in winter when its bright red fruits appear over its variegated foliage. It is perfect in a grove, accompanied by a few deciduous shrubs with autumn foliage and conifers with golden foliage for contrast. It can also be installed in a mixed hedge, or in a defensive hedge. It mainly fears dry air and shallow soils. Hardy beyond -15°C (5°F), it particularly likes cool places, in a large natural garden. Plant in cold regions alongside hawthorn, snowberries, and other evergreen hollies.

Hollies are both beloved and little-known plants. The genus comprises nearly 800 deciduous or evergreen species, usually native to the temperate northern hemisphere. These very ancient plants have experienced the alternating glacial and dry, hot periods of our climate history, making them extremely adaptable and resilient plants. Their white to cream wood is very low in water, even when green. It is dense and heavy, but soft and easy to work in cabinet-making. It is also an excellent fuel for heating, even when green. Finally, its foliage and berries (not edible) are rich in caffeine. A tea is made with its leaves in the Black Forest.