You’ll also find some tips on English holly plant care. It's rich with magical mythology history Folklores & lore. 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. Often the lower leaves are very spiny, while upper leaves are more ovate and have fewer spikes. 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. American Holly Ilex opaca Hardiness Zones. There are spineless and yellow-fruited forms of both species. The leaves are a leathery, glossy, dark green and vary in size and shape. Before holly was hung in houses to accompany Christmas trees, it was considered to be a sacred plant by the Druids. Just one makes an ideal small-space specimen. The bark of it is smooth, and grayish to grayish-brown. The american holly can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 5–9. Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii', Burford Holly. 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. This is the ovary, which forms the base of the yellowish stigma. At maturity, holly trees reach a height of 35 to 50 feet and a width of 15 to 25 feet. 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. Nellie Stevens Holly is a hardy tree. All five thrush species found in Britain in winter love holly … The type species is Ilex aquifolium, the common European holly used in Christmas decorations and cards. 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. Acorns are produced in the first year falling in autumn. Its dense and finely-textured wood was popular in decorative marquetry and inlay work. Oak Leaf holly (Ilex x “Conaf”) is a hybrid in the Red Holly series. Several species are cultivated as ornamentals for their distinctive foliage and red or black fruits, which persist into winter and are popular Christmas decorations. Holly facts Holly mythology and folklore With its prickly, evergreen leaves and bright red berries, holly is a distinctive but uncommon small tree in the understorey of the Caledonian Forest. There are also four stamens, but these don’t produce pollen. The Holly Tree: Facts Mythologies & FolkloresThe Holly tree just like all tree's is incredible! Omissions? Main image: A robin on a branch of holly in the snow. English holly plants (Ilex aquifolium) are the quintessential hollies, short broadleaf evergreen trees with dense, dark-green glossy leaves. The somewhat taller American holly (I. opaca) has oblong prickly leaves and usually red fruits. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Only the female plants produce berries, known as drupes. Hooray for holly wood. All five thrush species found in Britain in winter love holly berries, dispersing the stone fruit through their droppings. Fruit appears on a female holly tree after pollination. 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). 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. 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. Their small leav… The female has a fat green ‘boss’ in the middle. This tree is considered both an evergreen tree and an ornamental tree. 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! This development is related to protecting leaves within reach of browsing animals. Yaupon is dioeciouswhich means that male and female flowers are born on separate plants; male yaupon hollies do not produce berries. Mistle thrushes are often highly protective of their tree, noisily guarding its berries against other birds. It is native to eastern North America, as is the deciduous winterberry (I. verticillata). Holly is a well-loved shrub that shelters birds and gives hedgehogs a cosy place to hibernate. The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. What is new is training it into a small tree for parking lots islands, patios, even street side plantings. 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. This hybrid is a conical evergreen shrub or small tree that grows over time to 12-25 tall or more, unless pruned shorter. See Holly Research and R… The male has four prominent, pollen-bearing stamens that splay out in an ‘X’ shape, seen in spring and summer, from May. The berries are bright red, vivid orange or … ... Tree Type. The somewhat taller American holly (I. opaca) has oblong prickly leaves and usually red fruits. English holly (I. aquifolium), a tree growing to 15 metres (nearly 50 feet) tall, bears shining spiny dark evergreen leaves and usually red fruits. The flowering season is the same as the male. 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. Both male and female plants produce small white flowers in spring which attract pollinators. Holly is a diocecious plant – which means that it has separate male and female plants. The Eagleston Holly has a dense canopy with small slender branches which are smooth and light to medium gray in color. Thanks! Holly Trees have famously spiky leaves! Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? Carolina Holly (Ilex ambigua) Carolina holly is one of the deciduous species of holly. It is grown commercially in the Pacific Northwest and commonly used in decorations and floral arrangements as well as in landscapes. With proper care, these evergreen Holly trees survive well in rural, suburban, or urban areas. American holly normally grows to heights of 15 to 30 feet tall, but records indicate mature heights of up to 100 feet. Holly Trees are the only genus remaining in the family Aquifoliaceae, the others going extinct. Valued for their attractive foliage and bright, decorative berries, holly trees add a dramatic touch to the … It has outstanding potential as a standalone specimen or massed with others of its kind in a glorious hedge. As one of Britain’s most common native trees, holly has been used by furniture makers for centuries. Learn how to tell the difference between male and female plants, plus which birds are protective of holly trees. Both male and female holly trees exist, but only the female version can bear fruit. 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. 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). Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 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. 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. You can unsubscribe at any time. By entering your details, you are agreeing to Discover Wildlife terms and conditions and privacy policy. It can grow well … Holly leaves are evergreen. Holly is a genus of about 480 species of flowering plants. The evergreen holly was the ruler of the dark winter months, while the oak was the ruler of the lighter summer months. 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. There is nothing new about Burford Holly since it is commonly used as a shrub and kept small with pruning. 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