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Holly Suddenly in Bloom
Hi
First, a disclaimer. Although I like a nice garden, I'm no gardener, so what little knowledge I have is through asking questions like this one...
We have a fairly mature Holly tree in the front garden. It's been in somewhere between 12 and 15 years and now, for the first time, we have beautifully scented flowers on it, with a fragrance not dissimilar to the pittosporum which is a couple of metres away.
I'm pretty sure the tree is male, as shown by the picture of flowers I've attached (confirmation would be great), but should it be in flower so late in the year?
If not, is it potentially significant for the ongoing health of the tree?
Thanks, in advance, for any answers/advice
migs
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Posts
It might be the variety J.C. Van Tol, which also has smooth edged leaves and is hermaphrodite. Hope that is politically correct applied to plants!
Mine however is currently covered in red berries.!
Yours may have got a bit confused, like lots of plants this year by the capricious weather. I've got Hellebores flowering months early and even an oriental poppy flowering!
It does have spiky leaves up to about 3 feet, but no flowers at that level.
I think you're right about the unseasonably warm weather being a factor though, I just wonder if it being the first time it has ever flowered has added to the confusion