Call us: 0800 843 752Free shipping for orders $150 or over
Gift Vouchers

ilex jc van tol

Ilex jc van tol, formally known as Ilex aquifolium JC Van Tol, is an exceptional evergreen holly cultivar prized for its glossy, smooth-margined leaves and impressive winter berries. This versatile shrub thrives in New Zealand gardens, providing year-round interest and vibrant colour when most landscapes are at their dullest. Whether you're seeking a stunning feature shrub, reliable hedging, or an attractive backdrop for your mixed planting schemes, ilex jc van tol delivers both style and resilience.

Ilex aquifolium JC Van Tol

Ilex aquifolium 'JC Van Tol' is a handsome evergreen holly prized for its glossy dark green foliage, bright red berries, and naturally dense growth. This reliable variety is an excellent choice for New Zealand gardens, providing year round structure and colour with minimal maintenance. It is ideal for hedging, screening, feature planting, and formal gardens where it creates lasting visual appeal.

Ilex 'JC Van Tol' foliage and berries.
  • Suited to regions:
    All regions
  • Plant type:
    Shrubs
  • Height:
    4.00 m
  • Spread:
    2.50 m
  • Flowering time:
    Spring
  • Tolerances:
    Coastal, Hardy
  • Garden uses:
    Containers, Hedging, Screening, Topiary
  • Garden styles:
    Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern
Ilex 'Sky Pencil' shrubs with elegant, green foliage growing against a wall.
Most Popular Ilex Sky Pencil

Ilex ‘Sky Pencil’ is a striking, upright holly prized for its narrow, columnar shape that adds vertical interest to gardens. This evergreen shrub...

From$27.53
ilex-aquifolium-angustifolia-male-
Most Popular Ilex aquifolium Angustifolia

Ilex aquifolium 'Angustifolia' is an elegant evergreen holly admired for its narrow dark green leaves and dense upright growth habit. This hardy...

From$136.04
A large Ilex crenata 'Convexa' shrub with dense, green foliage.
Most Popular Ilex crenata Convexa (Japanese Holly)

Ilex crenata 'Convexa' is a compact evergreen shrub admired for its small glossy dark green leaves and naturally dense growth habit. Often used as an...

From$27.53
Ilex crenata 'Helleri' shrubs in a border garden.
Most Popular Ilex crenata Helleri

Ilex crenata ‘Helleri’ is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub with small, glossy green leaves and a dense, mounding habit. Resembling boxwood in...

From$27.53
Ilex 'Largo' plant with lush, dark green foliage.
Most Popular Ilex Largo

Ilex ‘Largo’ is a bold, evergreen holly variety known for its dense, glossy green foliage and broad, upright growth habit. It forms a tidy shrub...

From$27.53
camellia-japonica-buttons-and-bows-1
Most Popular Camellia 'Buttons and Bows'

Camellia 'Buttons and Bows' is a charming evergreen shrub admired for its formal double white blooms delicately edged in soft pink. Flowering from...

From$27.95
pieris-temple-bells-5
Most Popular Pieris 'Temple Bells'

Pieris 'Temple Bells' is a graceful evergreen shrub admired for its cascading clusters of bell shaped white flowers and attractive glossy foliage...

From$28.91
pseudopanax-lessonii-gold-finger-
Most Popular Pseudopanax 'Gold Finger'

Pseudopanax 'Gold Finger' is a striking New Zealand native shrub valued for its distinctive golden green foliage and strong architectural form. The...

From$270.40
viburnum-opulus-sterile-
Most Popular Viburnum opulus Sterile

Viburnum opulus 'Sterile' (Snowball Bush) is a stunning deciduous shrub admired for its large rounded clusters of pure white flowers that resemble...

From$27.53
hebe-bel-air-
Most Popular Hebe Bel Air

Hebe Bel Air is a NZ native shrub that features impressive, lilac-pink flower spikes through summer. These are borne above the lush and glossy, green...

From$22.01
Ilex aquifolium JC Van Tol

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring Ilex or Evergreen Shrubs.

Search Ilex aquifolium JC Van Tol

Why Choose Ilex JC Van Tol for Your NZ Garden?

Ilex jc van tol is a self-fertile holly, which means you’ll get an abundance of classic red berries without needing both male and female plants. Mature specimens can reach up to 4 metres if left unpruned, but this holly responds well to shaping, making it suitable for hedges, topiary, or even as a container specimen. Its leaves are smoother and softer to the touch than standard English holly, making it a more gardener-friendly choice. The bright red berries attract birds throughout winter, while the foliage remains glossy and green even in the coldest months.

Growing and Caring for Ilex JC Van Tol

Ilex jc van tol is adaptable, tolerating a range of soils from acidic to slightly alkaline, and prefers a spot in full sun to partial shade. It’s wind-tolerant, making it perfect for exposed coastal gardens or as a shelterbelt in rural areas. Once established, this holly is drought-tough and largely unbothered by pests or diseases.

A light prune in late winter keeps the shrub tidy and encourages denser growth. For gardeners planning a hedge, plant at 1 metre intervals for a lush, interlocking wall of foliage. Mulching around the base will help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Companions and Alternatives to Ilex JC Van Tol

Pairing ilex jc van tol with other evergreen shrubs or seasonal interest plants can enhance structure and colour in your landscape. For different forms of holly, consider Ilex Sky Pencil for a striking columnar shape, or Ilex aquifolium Angustifolia for a more traditional, spiny-leaved holly. If you're after a more compact, boxwood-like effect, Ilex crenata Convexa (Japanese Holly) or Ilex crenata Helleri are superb choices.

Looking to add even more interest to your garden beds? Mix with Bupleurum fruticosum (Shrubby Hares Ear) for delicate foliage contrast, or pair with showy blooms like Rhododendron White Gold, Rhododendron Kaponga, and Hibiscus coccineus. For aromatic foliage, try companion planting with Rosmarinus 'Masons Finest'.

Ilex JC Van Tol: An Evergreen Investment

Ilex jc van tol stands out for its easy-care nature, ornamental value, and food for native birds. With its smooth, glossy leaves and heavy berry set, it’s a favourite among New Zealand gardeners seeking robust, attractive, and wildlife-friendly hedging or statement shrubs. Whether used as a formal feature or a natural shelter, ilex jc van tol is a versatile, long-lived addition to your landscape.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Our garden favourites Arthropodium cirratum (Rengarenga Lily) and Griselinia 'Broadway Mint' get lots of love, but don’t miss out on a few lesser-known delights: Fagus 'Dawyck Gold', Hibiscus 'Jeanne D Arc', and Lemon 'Ponderosa'.
–The Plant Company

Explore Garden Inspiration

Sign up to receive a free $10 Voucher You won’t be bombarded with emails, just titbits of quality information from time to time Sign up
Free shipping on orders over $150!

Join our community of happy customers.

4.8

445 Google reviews