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Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

Festive, neat and prickly. Holly is a well-loved shrub that shelters birds and gives hedgehogs a cosy place to hibernate.

Holly branches have been used for many years to decorate homes in winter.

Credit: Derek Lefley / WTML

Mature trees can grow up to 15m in height.

Credit: John Waters / naturepl.com

Holly leaves are deep green and glossy with sharp spikes.

Credit: Laurie Campbell / WTML

Younger plants have spiky leaves, whereas on older plants the leaves are more likely to be smooth.

Credit: Shaun Nixon / WTML

Holly trees can live for up to 300 years.

Credit: Helen Hotson / Alamy Stock Photo

Its bark is smooth with lots of brown 'warts'.

Credit: Margaret Barton / WTML

Its dark, glossy leaves can be seen all year-round.

Credit: Deborah Morris / WTML

White flowers with four petals bloom in early spring.

Credit: Michael Grant / Alamy Stock Photo

Female flowers develop into rich red berries, which remain on the tree throughout winter.

Credit: Ben Lee / WTML

Holly is native to the UK.

Credit: Niall Benvie / WTML

Quick facts

Common name: holly

Scientific name: Ilex aquifolium

Family: Aquifoliaceae

Origin: native

Mature trees can grow up to 15m and live for 300 years. The bark is smooth and thin with lots of small, brown 'warts', and the stems are dark brown.

Look out for: its bright red berries and shiny, leathery leaves that usually have spiny prickles on the edges.

Identified in winter by: its dark, glossy leaves which remain green year-round.

What does holly look like?

Credit: Laurie Campbell / WTML

Leaves

Dark green, glossy and oval. Younger plants have spiky leaves, but the leaves of older trees are much more likely to be smooth. Leaves in the upper parts of the tree are also likely to be smooth.

Credit: Michael Grant / Alamy Stock Photo

Flowers

Holly is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers occur on different trees. Flowers are white with four petals. They bloom any time between early spring and the very beginning of summer, depending on the climate.

Credit: Derek Lefley / WTML

Fruits

Once pollinated by insects, female flowers develop into scarlet berries which can remain on the tree throughout winter.

Not to be confused with:

Some of the many cultivated and variegated varieties that exist.

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 is a fascinating way that organisms adjust their gene expression without actually changing their DNA. So although the DNA of all holly trees is the same, they can switch off or on different traits to adapt to their environment.

Spot the changing seasons

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Where to find holly

The holly is native in the UK and across Europe, North Africa and western Asia. It is common in woodland, scrub and hedgerows, especially in oak and beech woodland.

Did you know?

The mistle thrush is known for vigorously guarding the berries of holly in winter to prevent other birds from eating them.

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. The smooth leaves found at the tops of holly trees are a winter source of food for deer.

The berries are a vital source of food for birds in winter, and small mammals, such as wood mice and dormice.

Mythology and symbolism

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 is common in oak and beech woodland, scrub and hedgerows.

Credit: Helen Hotson / Alamy Stock Photo

Uses of holly

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.

Holly branches are still used to decorate homes and make wreaths at Christmas.

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Holly provides dense cover and good nesting opportunities for birds.

Credit: Ben Lee / WTML

Threats and conservation

The holly leaf miner may cause damage to foliage and holly leaf blight may cause dieback.