Holly
Ilex aquifolium
An evergreen, stock-proof shelter and a winter larder for birds. Site a male within range of your berrying females.
Ilex aquifolium, the holly, common holly, English holly, European holly, or occasionally Christmas holly, is a species of flowering plant in the family Aquifoliaceae, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia. It is regarded as the type species of the genus Ilex, which by association is also called holly. It is an evergreen tree or shrub found, for example, in shady areas of forests of oak and in beech hedges. In the British Isles it is one of very few native hardwood evergreen trees. It has a great capacity to adapt to different conditions and is a pioneer species that repopulates the margins of forests or clearcuts.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
⚠ Safety
Berries are toxic to people; grow for wildlife, not eating.
At a glance
- Sunlight
- Deep shade
- Water need
- Low
- Mature height
- 8 m
- Maintenance
- Low
- Hardiness
- USDA 6–9
- Layers
- understory, shrub
Functional roles
Pollination & soil
Dioecious — you need a male and a female plant for berries.
- Soil
- medium/loam
- pH
- Acid, Neutral
Tolerant; copes with deep shade.
Propagation
How to make more of this plant for free — the permaculture way.
When: Semi-ripe cuttings late summer
Evergreen shelter and winter bird food; thrives in shade and makes a stock-proof hedge.
Where to get it
Read more
Seed data pending expert review. Identification photo and description are sourced from Wikipedia/Wikimedia; always confirm a plant in person before eating any part of it.