As one of Britain’s most common native trees, holly has been used by furniture makers for centuries. Possum haw (I. decidua), also deciduous, bears red fruits on a shrub growing to 10 metres (33 feet). Holly facts Home Into the Forest Trees, Plants & Animals Trees Holly Holly facts With its prickly, evergreen leaves and bright red berries, holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a distinctive but uncommon small tree in the understorey of the Caledonian Forest. Before holly was hung in houses to accompany Christmas trees, it was considered to be a sacred plant by the Druids. If you are interested in growing English hollies or just want a few more English holly facts, read on. English holly is a broadleaf evergreen tree or shrub that is grown as a landscape plant in the northwestern United States and Canada but is also commonly found escaping into forests in this region. There is nothing new about Burford Holly since it is commonly used as a shrub and kept small with pruning. There are also four stamens, but these don’t produce pollen. With proper care, these evergreen Holly trees survive well in rural, suburban, or urban areas. Its dense and finely-textured wood was popular in decorative marquetry and inlay work. Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii', Burford Holly. Acorns are produced in the first year falling in autumn. Youpon holly is one of the more tolerant of the holly shrubs, doing well in a variety of soil types, moisture levels, pH levels, and sun exposures. Both male and female plants produce small white flowers in spring which attract pollinators. Already have an account with us? English holly's native range is the British Isles to southern and central Europe. Their small leav… Glossy dark green above, matt light green below, and waxy to … Credit: Ben Lee / WTML Holly is native to the UK. The male has four prominent, pollen-bearing stamens that splay out in an ‘X’ shape, seen in spring and summer, from May. English holly and American holly are used as ornamental Christmas greens. The margins may or may not be irregularly toothed. The holly, or Ilex, genus consists of a large group of evergreen and deciduous trees that range in size from 18 inches to more than 50 feet tall. There are spineless and yellow-fruited forms of both species. Holly is a plant. The somewhat taller American holly (I. opaca) has oblong prickly leaves and usually red fruits. The berries can be red, orange, or even yellow, and birds and other wildlife will feed on them through the winter months. The Holly berry is recognized throughout much of the United States as a symbol of the Christmas season; however, the trees branches and berries were used in by Pagan druids who wore Holly leaves on their heads. The Holly Tree: Facts Mythologies & FolkloresThe Holly tree just like all tree's is incredible! Just one makes an ideal small-space specimen. Botanically speaking, the fruit is the hard ‘stone’ at the centre, the exocarp is the red outer skin and the mesocarp is the fleshy orange layer in between. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. © Andrew Howe/Getty, Editorial consultant for BBC Wildlife, science writer and author. English holly (I. aquifolium), a tree growing to 15 metres (nearly 50 feet) tall, bears shining spiny dark evergreen leaves and usually red fruits. What is new is training it into a small tree for parking lots islands, patios, even street side plantings. See Holly Research and R… American holly normally grows to heights of 15 to 30 feet tall, but records indicate mature heights of up to 100 feet. East Palatka holly grows 35 to 40 feet tall, according to the University of Florida, and is a hybrid of Ilex cassine -- the Dahoon holly -- and Ilex opaca, American holly. The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. In general, holly trees can grow between 6 and 18 m (20 and 60 feet) once fully mature, while holly shrubs can grow between 30 cm and 6 m (1 and 20 feet). This tree is considered both an evergreen tree and an ornamental tree. Learn how to tell the difference between male and female plants, plus which birds are protective of holly trees. Mate, a tealike beverage common in parts of South America, is made from the leaves of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis). Or they can be left to grow naturally - unclipped holly trees often have an attractive weepy look with full-to-the-ground foliage. The Eagleston Holly has a dense canopy with small slender branches which are smooth and light to medium gray in color. The holly oak is a tough evergreen tree as wide as it is tall with a dense rounded crown. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Hollies are a group of glossy leaved plants with an excellent tolerance to shearing and bright berries. Main image: A robin on a branch of holly in the snow. How is holly dispersed? You're now subscribed to our newsletter. Carolina Holly (Ilex ambigua) Carolina holly is one of the deciduous species of holly. The greatest diversity of species is found in the Americas and in Southeast Asia. Holly Trees are the only genus remaining in the family Aquifoliaceae, the others going extinct. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This pyramidal tree features dense foliage and grows less than 12 inches annually, making it a slow-growing tree. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Gardening Australia - Ilex, holly - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), holly - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Holly is a well-loved shrub that shelters birds and gives hedgehogs a cosy place to hibernate. At maturity, holly trees reach a height of 35 to 50 feet and a width of 15 to 25 feet. Holly trees feature simple alternate leaves that are oval in shape and which feature points along the edges. This development is related to protecting leaves within reach of browsing animals. It is commonly called topel holly, although some of the named cultivars thereunder have different common … The bark of it is smooth, and grayish to grayish-brown. Only the female plants produce berries, known as drupes. It can grow well … As you scan a list of holly tree facts, you may think that one of the most charming qualities of the American holly (Ilex opaca) is its diversity. Hollies have alternate simple leaves, and the leaves of many species have wavy margins tipped with spines. Hooray for holly wood. It has smooth gray bark. Females produce bright berries. The Eagleston Holly can be used for a variety of landscape settings as either a tall screen or a solitary specimen when grown with a single trunk in tree form. Nellie Stevens Holly is a hardy tree. As the whitest wood, it can also be easily stained. Fruit appears on a female holly tree after pollination. There are many types (species) of holly. Mistle thrushes are often highly protective of their tree, noisily guarding its berries against other birds. Female flowers develop into rich red berries, which remain on the tree throughout winter. By entering your details, you are agreeing to Discover Wildlife terms and conditions and privacy policy. The plants can be evergreen or deciduous. Hollies can be shrubby or tree like, shaped for a manicured appearance into teardrops, lollipops (like the East Palatka holly pictured above) or even small shade trees. A Changing Libraries Initiative - This site and all content is … Updates? Several species are cultivated as ornamentals for their distinctive foliage and red or black fruits, which persist into winter and are popular Christmas decorations. Like many other hollies, yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) is an evergreen shrub or tree that is loved for the colorful berries it produces on the female plants. Yaupon (I. vomitoria), a shrubby tree reaching 8 metres (26 feet), bears oval leaves and red berries. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. You’ll also find some tips on English holly plant care. Thanks! This is the ovary, which forms the base of the yellowish stigma. The berries are bright red, vivid orange or … Like other hollies, this species is dioecious (separate male and female plants), so you will need to plant a male pollinator in order for this shrub to flower and bear fruit. Male and female flowers are on separate trees, so trees of both sexes must be located within the same area to ensure fruit production. It's rich with magical mythology history Folklores & lore. Yaupon is dioeciouswhich means that male and female flowers are born on separate plants; male yaupon hollies do not produce berries. Holly Trees have famously spiky leaves! You can unsubscribe at any time. This hybrid is a conical evergreen shrub or small tree that grows over time to 12-25 tall or more, unless pruned shorter. Both male and female holly trees exist, but only the female version can bear fruit. According to the Holly Society, “We now know that the spines on the distinctively-shaped holly leaves can act as miniature lightning conductors, thereby protecting the tree and other nearby objects.” So feel free to prune your holly and cut branches for the holidays, but you might be tempting fate to cut it down entirely! American Holly Ilex opaca Hardiness Zones. It is a cross between I. cassine (dahoon) and I. opaca (American holly), both of which parents share native territory in the far southeastern U.S. (particularly from coastal North Carolina to Florida). Try 3 issues of BBC Wildlife Magazine for just £5! English holly (I. aquifolium), a tree growing to 15 metres (nearly 50 feet) tall, bears shining spiny dark evergreen leaves and usually red fruits. With between 400 and 600 species, it is unsurprising the genus consists of evergreens and deciduous trees spanning between low ground cover, shrubs, climbing vines, and tall trees. Often the lower leaves are very spiny, while upper leaves are more ovate and have fewer spikes. Mature Size. Fallen holly leaves decay very slowly – look out for their paper-thin skeletons on the ground. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? The leaves are a leathery, glossy, dark green and vary in size and shape. This holly does well in full sun or part shade and is very tolerant of drought. Holly is a diocecious plant – which means that it has separate male and female plants. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. All five thrush species found in Britain in winter love holly … Introduction: American holly is a broad-leaf evergreen with a beautiful shape, but with a variety of insect and disease problems.The tree offers clusters of red berries that persist throughout fall and winter. It is grown commercially in the Pacific Northwest and commonly used in decorations and floral arrangements as well as in landscapes. The type species is Ilex aquifolium, the common European holly used in Christmas decorations and cards. Oak Leaf holly (Ilex x “Conaf”) is a hybrid in the Red Holly series. Chinese holly (I. cornuta), from East Asia, a shrub reaching 3 metres (10 feet), produces scarlet berries among shining evergreen leaves. The fruits are drupes and are an important winter food for many bird species; most are not safe for human consumption. English holly plants (Ilex aquifolium) are the quintessential hollies, short broadleaf evergreen trees with dense, dark-green glossy leaves. Valued for their attractive foliage and bright, decorative berries, holly trees add a dramatic touch to the … All five thrush species found in Britain in winter love holly berries, dispersing the stone fruit through their droppings. The evergreen holly was the ruler of the dark winter months, while the oak was the ruler of the lighter summer months. The american holly can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 5–9. Depending on the species, the fruit of a holly tree can either be orange, red, white, black or yellow. It is native to eastern North America, as is the deciduous winterberry (I. verticillata). Ilex / ˈ aɪ l ɛ k s /, or holly, is a genus of about 480 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family.The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. Holly facts Holly mythology and folklore There are spineless and yellow-fruited forms of both species. The somewhat taller American holly (I. opaca) has oblong prickly leaves and usually red fruits. Holly leaves are evergreen. Ilex x attenuata is a natural hybrid originally found growing in the wild in Florida in 1924. It has outstanding potential as a standalone specimen or massed with others of its kind in a glorious hedge. Holly is a key foodplant for about 30 species of invertebrate, including the caterpillars of insects such as the holly blue butterfly (adult pictured below) and privet hawkmoth. Holly guide: why it has leaves in winter, and which plants have berries, Iceberg guide: how they form, where they’re found, and how they’re used by wildlife, Corvids of the UK: how to identify, where to see them, and whether they are intelligent, Mistletoe guide: how it survives on other plants, and folklore associated with it, European robin guide: diet, habitat and species facts. New low growth has more spines as it is within the browsing zone of deer – leaves that are above 2–3m are smoother-edged. Holly, (genus Ilex), genus of some 600 species of shrubs and trees in the family Aquifoliaceae, distributed nearly worldwide. Japanese holly (I. crenata), an East Asian shrub growing to 6 metres (20 feet), has small evergreen leaves and black berries. Giraffes would find it easier to eat holly leaves... Holly is well known for its tough, spiny leaves; the … The single or clustered, usually greenish small flowers are unisexual and have four petals, and the male and female flowers are usually borne on separate plants. The female has a fat green ‘boss’ in the middle. These evergreen leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and less than 2 inches wide. A number of holly species are listed as endangered species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and at least one, I. gardneriana, is extinct because of habitat loss. The height of a full-grown holly tree varies depending on the species. ... Tree Type. Holly is a genus of about 480 species of flowering plants. Often referred to as the Christmas holly, this berry-laden evergreen shrub or tree is preferred for wreath production and holiday decorations. The flowering season is the same as the male. Long ago, the holly tree was considered one of the most sacred trees by the druids in Ireland. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Several states list Nellie Stevens Hollies on approved urban planting lists, as this Holly is a fast-growing vegetative screen, which is both drought tolerant and pollutant tolerant. With its prickly, evergreen leaves and bright red berries, holly is a distinctive but uncommon small tree in the understorey of the Caledonian Forest. Omissions? Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. On the poor soils of coastal beaches, this holly may never exceed shrub size. , noisily guarding its berries against other birds or urban areas the,... 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