Naturally. ilex. Ilex crenata Dark Green Ilex crenata Blondie

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1 Naturally ilex Ilex crenata Dark Green Ilex crenata Blondie

2 Contents L orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt inthen culpa and qui officia Ilex Crenata NOWdeserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud Het Loo Royal Palace in Apeldoorn exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa quicrenata officia deserunt mollit anim Ilex in rounded formsid est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam Capel Manor Gardens in North London Ilex Crenata in angular forms Villa garden in Brussels Frequently asked questions The nursery Colofon Client: Ilex Select With thanks to: Het Loo Palace (Apeldoorn), Capel Manor Gardens (Enfield, London), residents and architects of the gardens photographed 2 Naturally Ilex Production: Het Groenbureau (Dongen) (Ekeren)

3 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam. Naturally Ilex We are proud to introduce Ilex Crenata Dark Green and Blondie. These plants are the result of carefully selected Ilex seedlings which are protected by plant breeders rights. With Ilex Crenata Dark Green and Blondie we guarantee you high quality and consistent plants. The following pages show selections of Ilex Crenata used in gardens: from fantasy and bonsai forms, spheres, bee hives and cloud formations to hedges in straight and curved forms, block forms and columns. Open your imagination to the wide range of possibilities! Naturally Ilex 3

4 Ilex crenata THEN An exciting revival! Modest in size, easy to prune, evergreen and cold-hardy. These are the most important qualities of Ilex crenata. A shrub that was widely used in gardens, especially at the beginning of the last century, but has now made an important comeback due to improved varieties. As early as 1936, it was noted that Ilex crenata is a great shrub, that stands out for its small shiny green leaves, which look much like those of the boxwood shrub. Aside from that, the leaves are up to 3 cm in size and the leaf is toothed (crenate means wavy-toothed). Ilex crenata grows naturally on the islands of Japan, where the species can be found in shrub growth along streams and in forests. From a compact bush, this Japanese holly developed into a vigorous shrub and sometimes into a small, multi-stemmed tree. We have enjoyed Ilex crenata in our own gardens for a long time. And the fact that Japanese holly is still valued is shown by its use in Jubilee Park in London, designed by the wellknown Flemish landscape architects Jacques and Peter Wirtz in This park - on the roof of a car park - is enclosed by a beech hedge and criss- crossed by serpentine lines of small stone walls. The green is in the form of lawns and, among other things, masses of Ilex crenata. Little was written about the cultivars of Ilex crenata in the last century, while over 60 are registered today. Nevertheless the 1971 catalogue of the well-known English nursery Hilliers & Sons does list nine varieties. Of these, the yellow-leaved Golden Gem, the compact growing Stokes and Convexa with its distinct bulging leaf are the best known. Convexa was by far the best- known cultivar at the end of the last century, although it was only used on a modest scale. Fine examples of shaped masses were particularly evident in the gardens from the 1970s. Ilex crenata in literature The Dutch author John Bergmans wrote in his 1936 book De tuin bij het huis [The garden at the house]: Ilex crenata is a great shrub, that stands out for its small shiny green leaves, which look much like those of the boxwood shrub. Another Dutch author A.J. Herwig describes Ilex crenata in his Herwigs Praktische Tuin-Encyclopaedie [Practical Garden Encyclopaedia] from And in the summary of small evergreen shrubs in his book Ik kan tuinieren [I can garden] from 1952 he writes on this species: a shrub with small crenate leaves, that can tolerate shade well. His compatriot Elisabeth de Lestrieux describes the shrub species in Het kleine paradijs [The little paradise] from 1984 as a good hedge plant; if you do not want to have to prune carefully with the pruning shears, choose the small-leaved Ilex crenata. The English green author Stanley B. Whitehead describes Ilex crenata in Gardening with Shrubs & Trees from 1957 as slow growing and useful for the front of a border Naturally Ilex

5 Ilex crenata NOW A revolution in the garden Jan Oprins, a plant lover through and through, has been working with his nursery in Rijkevorsel, Belgium for many years. He is always looking for innovations within the vast array of garden plants. In 1989, his enduring interest in Ilex led him to sow seeds of Ilex crenata from various sources. You can well imagine the result: a field full of different variants of Ilex crenata, one of which immediately stands out for its vigorous growth with young shoots and a light green colour. This cultivar is called Blondie. Not much later, the dark-leaved Dark Green was also selected for its great resemblance to Buxus. Although at that time, that was completely irrelevant because Buxus was being sold in large numbers, explains Oprins. However, when the boxwood fields at his nursery required increasing care, the healthy Dark Green was found to be a good alternative. Ilex crenata Dark Green and Blondie are very healthy cultivars, virtually free of pests and diseases which lend themselves well to pruning, and stand out year-round with their beautiful leaf colour. In short, they are the perfect plants for hedges, whether low or high, and any other topiary form imaginable. After the trademark protection of these new cultivars, production has been considerably increased. This means that both strains are widely available, from small plants in pot size P9 to open ground plants with heights of up to two meters. Now that we ve come this far, the future for these two Ilex Crenata cultivars looks bright because of their many and diverse applications Naturally Ilex 5

6 Ilex Crenata Dark Green was the choice of Palace Het Loo, after 3 years of intense testing and comparing of various alternatives. Willem Zieleman - head gardener of Palace Het Loo - proudly plants the first specimen. Het Dealing with the diseases of Box asks for a thorough approach but the reward is to see the historical gardens restored to their original grandeur. 6 Naturally Ilex

7 Apeldoorn Royal Palace Garden Loo During the restoration work in the Baroque garden of Het Loo Palace in the Netherlands, it was decided to remove the Buxus hedges due to blight. After a number of very extensive trials, it was decided to use Ilex crenata Dark Green as the new hedge plant. After a first plantation in the Upper Garden, this was quickly followed by planting in the Queen s and King s gardens at each side of the palace. The first phase of the planting work was completed in Het Loo s head gardener, Willem Zieleman, explains: Since the planting that was done in the 1980s, the Queen s and King s gardens had not been renovated and were badly in need of major maintenance. The boxwood hedges were weak and had been affected by box blight. By planting Ilex, we are restoring the garden to its full glory. It was decided to use Ilex Crenata Dark Green for its close resemblance to the original Buxus Sempervirens and its excellent resistance to moulds and viruses. At Het Loo, a total of 27 kilometres of boxwood hedges will be replaced by Ilex Crenata Dark Green. Besides the close resemblance to Buxus, this cultivar has dense growth and the plant lends itself to being kept low. Zieleman: What stands out is the strong growth, its resistance to cold, and the fact that the plant accepts pruning very well. Naturally Ilex 7

8 Rounded forms for large and small gardens Spheres and clouds B oth Ilex Crenata, Dark Green, and Blondie can be pruned successfully into a whole range of shapes, from hedges to geometric forms and columns. The more the plant is clipped, the more dense and crisp the outline becomes. Hedges and topiary forms became the strong architectural framework of any garden, playing a particularly important role in winter months. The fashion for taming and shaping nature through skilled topiary and hedges - so beautifully executed in the gardens of Versailles, designed by Le Notre for Louis XIV - is alive and flourishing on a smaller scale in our gardens today. 8 Naturally Ilex

9 Round forms in painting T he painting style of the Russian-French painter and graphic artist Wassily Kandinsky initially was part of expressionism. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Kandinsky gave shape to abstract art. Music was an important inspiration for him. According to his sound- colour theory, each colour has its own language and expression, and every colour has its own soul. For instance, Kandinsk y tried to translate musical compositions into paintings. He heard the music in colours and in colours he saw the music. Round forms are a central theme of these paintings. Naturally Ilex 9

10 Capel Manor Gardens oasis for every garden lover Capel Manor Gardens in Enfield, North London, could be described as an oasis for every garden lovers, in that 60 themed gardens and landscapes are spread over an area of 30 hectares. Hundreds of prospective horticulturalists and landscape designers regularly use this site as a valuable reference both for inspirational ideas and practical application. Capel Manor showcases many examples of plants used in hedging. Not only the familiar but also more innovative varieties can be compared in-situ. Ilex Crenata Dark Green was recently introduced in a show garden the size of a typical urban plot, where the central circular lawn is surrounded by a perennial border. The border is framed by a circular hedge, reinforcing the contours of the lawn. Whilst the hedge plants used are only 60cm high, a weathering steel structure clearly indicates the 10 Naturally Ilex

11 North-Londen ultimate growth height intentioned for the hedge with slopes from high to low. Andy Moreham who was involved in the purchase of the Ilex Crenata Dark Green in this instance finds the cultivar is a good plant for low hedges. Our experience has been excellent. The plants look healthy and the growth is outstanding. Naturally Ilex 11

12 Straight lines and block forms for large and small gardens Lines and blocks Both Ilex crenata Dark Green and Blondie can be pruned into any desired shape without problems. Aside from hedges in various shapes and sizes, block forms and columns are also possible. The more it is pruned, the more compact the plant becomes. In particular, the hedge shapes emphasise the basic design of every garden all year round. We especially recognise these strict lines from the French garden style in which André Le Notre is by far the best-known landscape architect. In the 17th century, he designed the gardens at the Palace of Versailles for Louis XIV. The Sun King also expressed his power with the many hedges in the palace garden. With the extensive pruning, he set nature to his hand. Precise shapes like those at Versailles can still be found in many gardens to this day. 12 Naturally Ilex

13 Straight lines in painting art P iet Mondriaan is by far the best known artist for his use of straight lines in painting. When he came to Paris in 1911, he discovered cubism. Full of enthusiasm, he threw himself into this art form. At first he only painted in black lines, with additions limited to grey and white. Later, he expanded his pallet with the primary colours red, blue and yellow. In that era, together with other artists he established the journal De Stijl,to become later an art movement. Mondriaans works from that period made him famous worldwide. Naturally Ilex 13

14 Brussels I n a villa garden in a leafy suburb of Brussels, it was decided to use Ilex Crenata Blondie, in the organically sha- ped labyrinth in front of the house and against the dark fringe of the forest at the back. A total of almost 1,000 plants were used, of which some were as high as a person and some at knee height. A deliberate choice was made to use the cultivar Blondie for the colour effect of the light green young foliage that later turns dark in colour. 14 Naturally Ilex

15 Villa Garden in leafy suburb In the darker forest s edge, Blondie fills the openings in the vegetation under the leaf canopy of the trees growing above. Here, the bushes are only lightly pruned so that they can develop naturally. In the labyrinth, the bushes are trimmed regularly to ultimately create a labyrinth of wavy, organic but solid walls. Sometimes these walls are only one plant thick, sometimes low plants are pressed against the high ones so that the green walls increase in width. The relatively heavy soil of Brussels made it necessary to condition the soil before planting. Once established, the roots can also find their way through the loamy clay soil of Brussels. A humus rich organic compost was added to improve drainage and nutrient balance. Naturally Ilex 15

16 Frequently asked QUESTIONS What is the growth pattern of Ilex Crenata Blondie & Dark Green? Dark Green and Blondie are narrow and vertical and have dense branching, making them excellent for both low and head-high hedges. Heights up to 2-3 metres are easily achieved. Dark Green Blondie How is Ilex Crenata Blondie different from Dark Green? Dark Green Blondie Ilex Crenata Blondie makes shoots up to ± 40 cm per year after the year it is planted, Ilex Crenata Dark Green up to about 30 cm. The evergreen leaf of Blondie is ovoid to elliptical and emerges light green in the spring. In the summer, the leaf is bright green. The evergreen leaf of Dark Green is oval and emerges bright green. The leaf quickly becomes dark green after emerging. Do the cultivars of Ilex crenata produce flowers and berries? For both cultivars, the bloom is subtle with creamy white flowers and small black berries - loved by the birds - follow flowering. What type of root systems do the Ilex crenata cultivars have? The plants have shallow rooting, with a fine and tightly branched root structure. 16 Naturally Ilex For more information see also:

17 What is the best planting location? Ilex Crenata Dark Green and Blondie grow best in the full sun or semi-shade. The plants cope with deep shade under trees, but there the leaves quickly become dark in colour. The soil must be humus rich, high in nutrients and preferably slightly moist. Good permeability is important, heavy clay soil and/or a high groundwater require careful preparation with the incorporation of humus rich compost to open soil and improve drainage & nutrient balance. Best growth occurs in neutral to slightly acidic soil. What is the best time to plant? The best planting time for seedlings is from October to May, depending on the weather conditions (not during a period of frost). Plants in containers can be planted year round. It is advisable to use organic fertiliser, as this also stimulates soil life. The effect of organic fertilizer also lasts longer than that of artificial fertilizer. With dry soil, good water management is important. What is the best pruning period? Ilex crenata lends itself very well to pruning into hedges, spheres, blocks, pyramids or topiary forms. Pruning is done at least twice per year, preferably in the early summer and once in September or October. By pruning twice, the plant continues to branch well and the trimmed shape is maintained. Pruning on hot days is not advisable, in order to avoid leaf scorch. A major advantage of Ilex Crenata Dark Green and Blondie is that the cultivars recover well from old wood. Naturally Ilex 17

18 The NURSERY Open soil cultivation Mechanical removal Optimal loading Homogeneity through mechanical maintenance of plants 18 Naturally Ilex

19 Making root balls Open field cultivation Mechanical uprooting Container cultivation Plant stock Naturally Ilex 19

20 Ilex Select