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Holly

Holly is our commonest native evergreen tree, it is so popular that it is widely grown in gardens and there are numerous cultivated versions grown for their colour.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Bein-Vair (Norse) Cuillen (Old Irish) Helver Berry Holm Aunt Mary's Tree Poisonberry Christmas Tree Christ's Thorn
Generic name	Holly
Latin name	Ilex aquifolium
Family name	Holly
Latin family name	Aquifoliaceae

What type of tree is it?

Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	No, it is evergreen

Species description:

Average height	8-15m

Leaf

Description	High gloss on top, and pale, matt underneath. Younger plants have very spiny leaves, whereas older trees have almost un-spined leaves
Shape	Oval
Colour	Dark green
Leaf stalk	Short stalk
Leaf arrangement	Alternate

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Clustered/grouped flowers
Flowering season	Late spring - early summer
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Ripening to red
Fruit season	Autumn
Type of seed body	Fruit
Seeds dispersed by	Wildlife

Bark and twig

Bark description	Brownish-grey with frequent small round 'warts'

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Other hollies - these have different shaped or coloured leaves e.g. yellow and green leaves with few spines

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	Britain and Ireland
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Common on most soils and tolerates deep shade
What is its British conservation status?	Common

Additional information

Is any part of the tree poisonous?	The berries are poisonous to humans but not birds which love them!
Human uses of tree and timber	The timber is white and heavy- freshly cut wood is so dense it sinks in water. The fine grain of the wood makes it suitable for inlay work on furniture and chess pieces. The hammers in harpsichords and the butts of billiard cues can also be made of holly. In the past there were more uses of holly including whips for horses. The leaves are also useful as they provide a nutritious feed for livestock. Sometimes hollies were planted and cut for this purpose.
Tree lore and folklore	The bringing in of evergreen branches to decorate homes and barns is a custom which goes back to pre-Christian times. The holly, with its red berries and sharp spines, was seen as a powerful fertility symbol and a charm against witches, goblins and the devil. Some writers say that it is unlucky to plant a holly near a house whereas others say that hollies were deliberately planted under the belief that they were good lightening conductors and would prevent the lightening striking the house. These contradictions could be a result of different practices in different parts of the UK. It is reputedly unlucky to cut down a holly tree and some believe this is why hollies may have remained when parts of woods were felled or hedges grubbed up. Other evidence suggests this may have been becuase the evergreen leaves provide sightlines and guides to those walking in the countryside or ploughing fields. In the past, boiled young holly leaves were used as a cure for colds, bronchitis and rheumatism and although they are poisonous, berries were recommended as a laxative!

Common Holly

Common Holly leaves and berries

Common Holly flowers

Some trees are spineless

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees

©2012 The Woodland Trust