{"product_id":"ilex-colchica","title":"Ilex colchica","description":"\u003ch1\u003eBlack Sea Holly\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDark, glossy evergreen leaves with striking spiny margins and clusters of bright red berries make Ilex colchica, the Black Sea Holly, an impressive structural shrub for year-round interest. Native to the damp forests around the Black Sea, this slow-growing evergreen features larger, more deeply veined foliage than common holly. In Spring, small, white, nectar-rich flowers open, attracting local pollinators. On female plants, these blooms mature into vivid red berries that ripen in Autumn and remain through Winter, providing essential food for wild birds. Exceptionally hardy and shade-tolerant, it adds structural interest to garden borders, woodland settings, and informal hedges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSite: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTolerates exposure, including coastal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eSoil: \u003c\/b\u003eMoist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Prefers neutral to acidic ground; dislikes heavy, waterlogged clay or shallow lime soils\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ePosition: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFull sun or partial shade. Grows well beneath canopy trees\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeason of interest: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eYear-round glossy evergreen foliage. Bright red berries Autumn-Winter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eHardiness: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFully hardy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eHeight:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e 10’-16’ (3-5m) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eSpread: \u003c\/b\u003e6.5\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e’-10’ (2-3m)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eImage 3 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/flickr.com\/photos\/33037982@N04\/\"\u003eLeonora (Ellie) Enking\u003c\/a\u003e cropped and licensed under \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCC BY-SA 2.0\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Future Forests","offers":[{"title":"Pot | 3L (Female)","offer_id":55159994384711,"sku":null,"price":16.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0617\/2750\/6590\/files\/Ilexcolchica1.jpg?v=1790338349","url":"https:\/\/futureforests.ie\/en-gb\/products\/ilex-colchica","provider":"Future Forests","version":"1.0","type":"link"}