PLANT OF THE MONTH: Holly
- Helen Harris
- Dec 31, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: May 1
Latin name: Ilex aquifolium
Height: up to 15m
Conservation status: Common
Origin: Native
Holly is one of our most familiar evergreen trees with its bright red berries and glossy, leathery leaves, usually with spiny prickles on the edges.
Holly, or European holly as it is sometimes known, is common in UK woodland, scrub and hedgerows, especially in oak and beech woodland as well as in urban gardens. It occurs naturally in western, central and southern Europe, where its range includes the coastal region of Norway, Denmark, Germany, Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and across the Mediterranean to Bulgaria and Turkey. It also occurs in North Africa, in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, and further east, in the Caucasus Mountains and northern Iran.
Holly has also been introduced to a number of other countries, including New Zealand, temperate parts of Australia and the Pacific Northwest of North America, in all of which it has caused problems as an invasive species.
Holly Trees can live for up to 300 years. It is a dioecious tree, meaning that male and female flowers occur on different trees. Flowers are small and greenish-white with four petals. They bloom any time between early spring and the very beginning of summer, depending on the climate.
Value to wildlife
Holly provides dense cover and good nesting opportunities for birds, while its deep, dry leaf litter may be used by hedgehogs and small mammals for hibernation.
The flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the holly blue butterfly, along with those of various moths, including the yellow-barred brindle, double-striped pug and the holly tortrix. Deer will eat any younger smooth-edged leaves that they can reach.
Holly’s scarlet berries can remain on the tree throughout winter. They are an important food source for birds such as thrushes, redwings and fieldfares as well as small mammals, such as wood mice and dormice. The mistle thrush is known for vigorously guarding the berries of holly in winter to prevent other birds from eating them.
Why are only some holly leaves prickly?
Scientists recently discovered that holly trees adjust their spiky armour in response to hungry animals and changing environments. They can produce some prickly leaves to fend off nibblers while others remain smooth.
This leafy transformation happens through epigenetic modification. This means it is a change to how the DNA in the leaf cells is expressed depending on chemical modifications in the cell that can be switched on and off to respond to the environment.
Symbolism, folklore and uses
Holly berries and thorny leaves are said to symbolise Jesus's blood on the crown of thorns.
Over 2,000 years ago, the Celts believed that two twins, the Holly King and the Oak King, became rooted in a terrible battle to rule the woodland. Legend has it that, in summer, the Oak King was in full leaf and the rest of the wood bowed to his extreme strength. But his leaves began to drop from his bows and the Holly King seized his chance to rule the wintry wood with his evergreen leaves and red berries.
Holly branches have long been used to decorate homes in winter. The tree was seen as a fertility symbol and a charm against witches, goblins and the devil. It was thought to be unlucky to cut down a holly tree.
Holly wood is the whitest of all woods, and is heavy, hard and fine-grained. It can be stained and polished and is used to make furniture or in engraving work. It is commonly used to make walking sticks. Holly wood also makes good firewood and burns with a strong heat.
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