A Holly for December’s plant of the month is a bit predictable, but I have been noticing that it’s a very good year for berries here in Manchester. Not that many will last until Christmas on my specimen as the wood pigeons are already perched in its branches and tucking in. They can’t reach the berries towards the end of the stems though. They’re reserved for the more nimble blackbirds.

There are many lovely hollies to choose from but, if you don’t want the prickly leaves, then Ilex ‘J.C. van Tol’ is the one to plant. Dark green leaves but no spines. It is also a self-fertile female, so you won’t have to look around for another holly tree locally to ensure berry production. Tiny white flowers in May-June.

This holly makes a handsome evergreen tree for a small garden with fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Slow growing to 6m – mine has been in the ground for 20 years and is only 2m high. I prune it annually to keep it a neat shape. Some twigs make it into the house for Christmas decoration and I add false berries if the birds have had their festive fill. Merry Christmas everyone!