Holly (ilex aquifolium)

• Native evergreen tree/shrub, hardy and long-lived (up to 300+ years), providing year-round dense glossy green foliage and structure.
• Iconic for Christmas decorations: bright red berries (on female plants) and spiky leaves; berries persist into winter.
• Outstanding for wildlife: berries feed birds (thrushes, blackbirds) in winter; dense prickly growth offers safe nesting and shelter.
• Excellent security hedging – thorny, intruder-deterrent, and responds well to clipping; also effective windbreak.
• Tolerant of shade, pollution, coastal conditions, and most soils (including chalk and clay).

Planting Guide

• Best time: Bare-root November–March (dormant season); container-grown anytime, ideally autumn or spring.
• Location: Full sun to deep shade; moist but well-drained soil (tolerates poor/dry once established); sheltered or exposed sites; ample space for mature size (up to 15–25m tall as tree, smaller as hedge).
• Preparation: Dig hole twice root width; add organic matter to very poor soils.
• Planting: Set at original depth (check soil mark on stem); firm in, water thoroughly, mulch base (keep clear of trunk); stake if needed in windy spots.
• Aftercare: Water well first few years in dry spells; prune hedges in late winter/early spring; minimal care required; protect young plants from rabbits/deer.