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Identifying male and female Holly

  • 07-12-2012 10:01pm
    #1
    Milton09
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 451 ✭✭


    Folks,

    Does anyone know if it is possible to tell the difference between male and female holly at this time of year?

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    greysides
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,039 Mod ✭✭✭✭greysides


    Female may have berries.

    The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert

    The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It's to promote critical thinking.

    Adam Grant



  • #3
    Milton09
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 451 ✭✭Milton09


    greysides wrote: »
    Female may have berries.

    Yes but if it doesn't how do you know ?


  • #4
    Oldtree
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,104 ✭✭✭Oldtree


    then you are into the arena of gene testing (which probably isnt here yet) like the date palm
    http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/gene-tests-for-female-date-palm-bear-fruit


  • #5
    periodictable
    Closed Accounts Posts: 931 ✭✭✭periodictable


    Milton09 wrote: »
    Folks,

    Does anyone know if it is possible to tell the difference between male and female holly at this time of year?

    Thanks.
    There is no method of determining the sex of the plant without flowers or fruit. The flowers of hollies are sexually differentiated, ie female hollies have more pronounced pistils, and male hollies show more pronounced stamens in their flowers.


  • #6
    Milton09
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 451 ✭✭Milton09


    periodictable wrote: »
    There is no method of determining the sex of the plant without flowers or fruit. The flowers of hollies are sexually differentiated, ie female hollies have more pronounced pistils, and male hollies show more pronounced stamens in their flowers.

    Thanks, thats what I though, When is flowering time - Spring?


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  • #7
    periodictable
    Closed Accounts Posts: 931 ✭✭✭periodictable


    can be any time of the year, but yes usually mid spring onwards-noticed some new flower buds recently on some bushes


  • #8
    Qualitymark
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    So it's flowered. Is this a boy holly or a girl holly?

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/61713504@N07/8843167990/


  • #9
    periodictable
    Closed Accounts Posts: 931 ✭✭✭periodictable


    Looks to me like a male as the 4 "spikes" tipped by yellow parts are the stamens are very pronounced. A female flower will have a pronounced ovary in the centre.
    Your photo does show an ovary in the centre surrounded by stamens, so maybe you have a self-pollinating variety like Ilex aquifolium "Alaska", which has both male and female flowers on the same plant. Just give it a month or so to see if any berries appear.


  • #10
    Qualitymark
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Thanks, periodictable; I've given it 24 years, and so far no berries have appeared, though the robins and magpies nest happily in it.


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