A native evergreen whose spiny leaves become smooth higher up the tree, an adaptation to browsing animals
Holly.
Nature · Trees
Holly
Native · evergreen, to 15 m · woods, hedges and scrub
Ilex aquifolium — Aquifoliaceae
Holly is one of Britain's few native broadleaved evergreens, a tree of oak and beech woods, scrub and hedgerows whose spiny glossy leaves and scarlet winter berries are the emblem of Christmas. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees, so only females bear berries. The lower leaves are spiny, while those higher up are often smooth.
How to know it
How to spot them
- ▸Glossy, dark green oval leaves, spiny on young plants and lower branches, often smooth higher up
- ▸Smooth thin grey bark with small brown warts
- ▸White four-petalled flowers from spring to early summer
- ▸Scarlet berries on female trees, lasting through winter
- ▸Evergreen, with dense dark shade
How to know it
Only female trees bear its scarlet berries, since flowers of each sex grow on separate trees
Holly — it is dioecious.
The mistle thrush vigorously guards its winter berries against other birds
Holly.
Its wood is the whitest of all woods, used for engraving and walking sticks
Holly.
The spring-brood food plant of a small blue butterfly, and a charm against witches and goblins
Holly.
Its Latin epithet means needle-leaved, and it is unlucky to cut one down
Holly (Ilex aquifolium).
Quick-fire facts
- •Ilex aquifolium: aquifolium relates to needle-leaved
- •Woodland Trust: trees reach 15 m and can live for 300 years
- •Holly is dioecious: male and female flowers on different trees
- •Scientists have found that holly adjusts its prickliness in response to browsing, through epigenetic modification
- •Smooth leaves at the top of the tree are winter deer food
- •Mistle thrushes defend berry-laden trees against other birds
- •Holly branches long served as winter decoration and a charm against witches, goblins and the devil; cutting one down was thought unlucky
- •Its dry leaf litter is used by hedgehogs and small mammals for hibernation
- •Holly blue butterfly caterpillars feed on its leaves
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Sources
- Woodland Trust — Holly (Ilex aquifolium)