Ilex rotunda Red Dot

Ilex rotunda Red Dot is a recent French variety of this evergreen holly with average hardiness. It is of interest for its non-spiny evergreen foliage, which is a medium green colour and lighter than our common holly.  It is especially remarkable for its abundant red berries in autumn and winter. Its growth is relatively fast for a holly, reaching a height of 3m (9 ft 10 in) in 10 years, and it will continue to grow taller.  It can be grown in full sun or partial shade, in limestone-free, neutral or slightly acidic soil, and it prefers moist conditions.  A unique and attractive plant for regions with a not too harsh climate.

Hollies belong to the Aquifoliaceae family, which have a unique genus (some classifications also include Nemopanthus). Most of them are evergreen and often spiny, but some are deciduous.  They range in size from shrubs to trees, growing in temperate climates to tropical zones. The most well-known is Ilex aquifolium, our common holly that can be found in our woodlands, and which has given rise to numerous cultivars.
This genus is also found in Asia, notably with the species rotunda originating from China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan. Ilex rotunda, also known as Kurogane Holly, grows in evergreen broadleaved forests, often in fairly sunny areas such as forest edges or slopes. At maturity, it can reach a height of 18m (59 ft 1 in). This species was first described in 1784 by Carl Peter Thunberg, the Swedish naturalist and pupil of Linnaeus. It is an official tree of several Japanese municipalities and is one of the Hibakujumoku trees, meaning it survived the nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki - the above-ground parts of trees located 3 km (1.9 mi) from the impact were destroyed but regrew from the stump.

Ilex rotunda Red Dot (R) 'Minzong' cov is its full name and it is a recent creation from the Minier nurseries near Angers, which has been granted a plant variety certificate in 2020 (equivalent to a patent for plant varieties). Its characteristics are not yet fully established, particularly its estimated hardiness of -12°C (10.4 °F) to-15°C (5 °F), which could be improved, but this still needs to be tested. Similarly, its size after 10 years of planting is known, about 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height and width, with an annual growth of about 40cm (15.7 in). Its adult height, on the other hand, is estimated at 5m (16 ft 5 in) but this could reach 8m (26 ft 2 in) in open spaces.
This large shrub has a fairly upright habit in its early years and then becomes more rounded with age. Its foliage is a beautiful medium green, lighter than the common holly species we are accustomed to. Its non-spiny leaves are a beautiful light green when they first appear, before darkening slightly. Obovate in shape (wider near the tip than at the petiole), with a very slight point at the end, they are glossy, as if coated with varnish. Its branching is dense and can be further enhanced by a spring pruning, which it tolerates very well.
Its discreet white flowering in May-June transforms into beautiful decorative red fruits from October to December. It is a self-fertilising female variety, guarenteeing an autumn show! Its spherical berries can be so plentiful on a branch that the leaves no longer have room. When birds finish eating the berries, some branches can then be left bare, but they can be pruned to stimulate new shoots. These very attractive fruits are toxic and can cause some gastric problems.
Red Dot grows in full sun or partial shade, in limestone-free soil, neutral to moderately acidic, rich in humus and fertile. It does not tolerate drought and will require watering in summer. It should be planted in a location sheltered from cold winter winds.

This exotic holly will delight enthusiasts of decorative fruiting plants. To create an autumnal scene of interest, you can associate it with other shrubs with decorative berries that have the same requirements. In the foreground of your flowerbed, opt for the Skimmia japonica Kew White with its spherical white fruits that contrast well with the reds of the Holly. Among the deciduous ones, the Clerodendrum trichotomum has star-shaped and highly visible late summer flowers that are pleasantly scented. It is followed by magnificent fruits, resembling precious jewels, consisting of a turquoise blue pearl set in a bright red calyx. Equally unknown despite its equally astonishing fruits, the Decaisnea fargesii is also native to China. This shrub is adorned with beautiful cream-yellow cluster-like flowers, which turn into large elongated turquoise-colored pods in autumn.