Page 78 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

78 Top trees: Seasonal beauties

Japanese holly

Ilex serrata

Key features
This deciduous tree really comes to life from late
∙New growth tends to grow
fall to spring, when you will see it laden with
vertically, which spoils the
fruit. The combination of a thick trunk, well- shape of the tree. Remove it
proportioned branches, and tiny fruit is hard to in favor of lower growth and
beat. To get it to fruit you must have a large male gently wire upward growth
tree to pollinate the female. That means only downward to flatten it out.
styling the female and leaving the male alone so ∙This thirsty tree likes a wet
it produces plenty of branches with lots of climate. Do not allow it to dry
out when the fruit is setting.
flowers. The Japanese holly’s attractive summer
foliage is an added bonus. ∙Protect the fruit from birds
when the leaves drop or the
birds will have a feast.
Do not defoliate if you
want to have fruit

As the tree grows bigger, leaf size
increases; limit this by pinching
off new growth and restricting
the amount of fertilizer in spring

Looking closer
Top: The small oval leaves are
mid-green with a slightly rough
texture and serrated edges.
Center: If the tree dries out when
it is setting fruit, the fruit will
all drop off.
Below: The heavy base reveals
scars where other trunks have
been grown to develop thickness.
To achieve a tapered upper trunk,
first develop the thickness at the
bottom, then encourage branching
A heavy base formed
by a triple trunk is
a typical style of
growth for this tree

21in / 52cm tall
Courtesy of John
Brocklehurst