by Gaia
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.
Quick facts
Common name: Holly
Scientific name: Ilex aquifolium
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Origin: native
Information:
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?
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.
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.
Fruits
Once pollinated by insects, female flowers develop into scarlet berries which can remain on the tree throughout winter.
Mythology, stories 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.
