Common Holly, European Holly, English Holly

Ilex aquifolium is a beautiful evergreen whose berries and leaves have long been used to produce attractive Christmas decorations.

The English Holly is a classic evergreen tree that produces thick, waxy leaves with lobed, spiked margins. The small flowers are white and appear in late spring, which is when bees pollinate them.

The bright red berries follow, developing throughout the summer and maturing in October and November. At this point, they are quite bitter and thus tend to remain on the tree until after the first frost. The frost softens and sweetens them, making the fruits palatable to birds and small mammals.

Ilex aquifolium is native to Britain. At maturity, it is a small tree that forms an attractive pyramidal shape. 

Like many evergreens, the European Holly prefers well-drained soils and will not thrive in soils that tend to hold water. 

This small tree is perfect for bringing winter colour to small gardens. It tolerates shade, making it useful for planting under the canopies of large existing trees.

Mature Height: 3-7m

Common names

Common Holly, European Holly, English Holly

Height of tree

3-7m

Tree type

Evergreen

Soil type

Well drained, Will tolerate most soil types

Shape

Pyramidal

Blossom Colour

White

Foliage Colour

Green

Information Flags

Good for bees, Native

Looks good in

Winter

Privacy

Screening from ground level

Location

Garden, Parkland

Genus

Ilex