Ilex aquifolium

English holly is an ornamental. flowering, evergreen tree or tall hedge in the Aquifoliaceae family often found in well-drained soils in scrub, hedges and woodland where it is often the dominant under-story shrub. The plant is the traditional Christmas holly in Europe. It can be allowed to grow to its full height or pruned and trained as a 10 or 15 foot hedge. The genus name (Ilex) comes from the Latin name Quercus ilex for holm oak in reference to the foliage similarities. The specific epithet aquifolium comes from the Latin word acus meaning needle and folium meaning leaf.

It is not frost tender, in leaf all year, in flower in the spring, and the seeds ripen from November to March. The species is dioecious meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if the berries, that provide winter interest, are desired. The plant is pollinated by bees and is not self-fertile. It has glossy green leaves and thorns and is effective as a specimen plant, grouped as a tall hedge or foundation planting. It dislikes high temperatures and high humidity, so use only in protected locations. It also requires protection from cold winter winds. Prune in the winter as needed to maintain shape.  It likes partial shade especially in hot summers and will not tolerate poor drainage. It can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor or very acidic soils.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:

 It can be challenging to grow in the south because it dislikes hot summers and cold winters. 

VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I:  Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II:  Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University