White Holly Berry?

[Silver Invicta]

First time I've come across holly growing in the wild (Surrey commonland) with non-red berries. Any suggestions?

[Tursiops2]

Probably a garden escape. Perhaps this one:
RHS Plant Selector Ilex aquifolium 'Bacciflava' (f) / RHS Gardening

Welcome to WAB.

T2

[Dorts]

Cultivated Hollies, including a few non-native species, come with berries of many colours, including red, of different shades, orange, pink, yellow and white. Though it is not common to find these in the wild.

Are you anywhere near Wisley RHS gardens by any chance? Just a thought.

Welcome to WAB by the way Silver Invicta.
Dorts.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Cultivated Hollies, including a few non-native species, come with berries of many colours, including red, of different shades, orange, pink, yellow and white. Though it is not common to find these in the wild.

I guess that like most things that humans have bred into different "varieties", there is always a chance that the same genetic mutations could turn up in the wild - if it is a simple mutation. There is, of course, generally less chance that a combination of different mutations will be found in one individual organism in the wild (whereas breeders will often combine two or more mutations to see if the result is interesting!).

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by RoyW

I guess that like most things that humans have bred into different "varieties", there is always a chance that the same genetic mutations could turn up in the wild - if it is a simple mutation. There is, of course, generally less chance that a combination of different mutations will be found in one individual organism in the wild (whereas breeders will often combine two or more mutations to see if the result is interesting!).

Over 250 varieties, including almost 50 species of Holly are available in the UK. Most of these are varieties of our native Ilex aquifolium, most of which are grown for leaf colour and shape.

Orange, red and yellow berried trees of our native holly have been found in the wild in Britain, but in my experience those other than the normal red shades are not at all common. But as you rightly say Roy, the genetic material is there, and when you add in the over 400 species world-wide, virtually anything is possible. Even black-berried species are available.

Could have been a good quiz question- "What colour berries can a holly have?".
Dorts.

[Paul mabbott]

This is rather a confusion of the issue. Either we're referring to seperate species or we're talking about varieties/sub-species of A. aquifolium. 'Species' and 'variety' are words with clear scientific meaning: they cannot be interchanged randomly. Failure to use the terms correctly is the basis of much confusion in the world!

Getting back to the point! It could (maybe) require only the loss of one gene to turn red berries to white ones; such a variant might not survive in nature as reproducing individuals but one individual might - especially if it were planted!

Originally Posted by Dorts

Over 250 varieties, including almost 50 species of Holly are available in the UK. Most of these are varieties of our native Ilex aquifolium, most of which are grown for leaf colour and shape.

Orange, red and yellow berried trees of our native holly have been found in the wild in Britain, but in my experience those other than the normal red shades are not at all common. But as you rightly say Roy, the genetic material is there, and when you add in the over 400 species world-wide, virtually anything is possible. Even black-berried species are available.

Could have been a good quiz question- "What colour berries can a holly have?".
Dorts.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

This is rather a confusion of the issue. Either we're referring to seperate species or we're talking about varieties/sub-species of A. aquifolium. 'Species' and 'variety' are words with clear scientific meaning: they cannot be interchanged randomly. Failure to use the terms correctly is the basis of much confusion in the world!

The terms were correct, but the way they were used in my sentence was wrong. It should perhaps have read- "Over 50 species and 250 varieties of Holly are available in the UK."
Thanks.
Dorts.

[Silver Invicta]

Many thanks everyone for input. I'm impressed by the standard of contributions throughout WAB - a really good resource