Holly, Green (Ilex aquifolium)

Green Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

is a big evergreen shrub or a medium tree. Holly has spiny, glossy green foliage and bright red, white or yellow berries in late autumn/winter, carried on female plants - please note that our holly are grown from seed and that the sex of the plants cannot be guaranteed as they are generally too young to have berried. Young Holly is much loved by rabbits, they are inclined to bite it off at ground level so plants need protection for the first year or two, but like yew it is on the RHS list of plants that resist honey fungus well . Enormously hardy, Holly will grow in seaside and industrial areas and is tolerant of deep shade. Trim immediately after it has berried. The wood of holly is almost pure white and is much prized (and therefore extremely valuable) for inlay work as it is hard and polishes well.

Holly makes an excellent hedging plant by itself (when it can be stockproof) or inter-planted with either beech or common laurel. It is also one of the best plants for attracting wildlife into the garden. Holly grows in almost any soil To 8m