In Colorado we have a holly family plant called creeping Mahonia that likes growing under scrub oak (Gambel oak; a desirable invasive that came up with the cattle drive chuck wagons from Texas) and I think there is a positive alleopathy between oak and holly family plants based on your observation in the UK. I wish I could grow real holly here, but like non-native roses, rosemary and many other lovely plants it is too cold and windy at our little farm! Cheers, and thanks for the wonderful botany lessons, even if we differ in our regard for knapweed!
Sadly they got holly leaf blight, a fungus type organism, Phytophthora ilicis. This has just about wiped out the native holly in the woods. Some in the garden survive. One has tried five times to grow again.
Some varieties may be resistant - best to research before planting?
In Colorado we have a holly family plant called creeping Mahonia that likes growing under scrub oak (Gambel oak; a desirable invasive that came up with the cattle drive chuck wagons from Texas) and I think there is a positive alleopathy between oak and holly family plants based on your observation in the UK. I wish I could grow real holly here, but like non-native roses, rosemary and many other lovely plants it is too cold and windy at our little farm! Cheers, and thanks for the wonderful botany lessons, even if we differ in our regard for knapweed!
We love holly and once had a wood full of it.
Sadly they got holly leaf blight, a fungus type organism, Phytophthora ilicis. This has just about wiped out the native holly in the woods. Some in the garden survive. One has tried five times to grow again.
Some varieties may be resistant - best to research before planting?