Nature notes

Holly – a prickly customer

With its glossy, prickly leaves and vibrant red berries, the evergreen holly (Ilex aquifolium), is one of our most distinctive native plants.

Holly is a common shrub or tree found in oak and beech woods, scrubland and hedgerows, and is also planted as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. mature hollies grow up to 15 metres and live up to 300 years. Holly is dioecious, meaning that its male and female flowers grow on different trees. Holly flowers are white with four petals, with only the male flowers being fragrant. they bloom any time between early spring and early summer. only the female holly bears berries. once pollinated by bees and other insects, female flowers develop into the familiar red berries, and for this to happen there must be a male holly nearby. the familiar prickly leaves are most likely found on young plants whilst the leaves of older trees are more likely to be smooth, as are the leaves in the upper parts of holly trees.

many wildlife species find shelter and a safe nesting place in holly’s dense, spiky foliage which deters predators. the berries are eaten by small mammals such as wood mice and many species of birds, including redwings, fieldfares and thrushes. mistle thrushes are known to vigorously defend ‘their’ holly tree/berries from other birds. Holly leaves are a major food source for the caterpillar of the Holly Blue butterfly, which is widespread in england and Wales, and according to Butterfly Conservation:

‘The Holly Blue has expanded northwards in recent years and has colonised parts of southern Scotland.’ in winter, the holly’s deep leaf litter can provide a cosy spot to hibernate for toads, slow worms, hedgehogs and other small mammals. like many plants, holly has its place in folklore and mythology, including roman, Celtic and Christian. in some cultures it was considered unlucky to cut down a whole holly tree, although branches could be brought into homes and barns to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Holly trees were also seen as protection from lightning strikes and so were planted near houses. there does appear to be some scientific evidence that the spines on holly leaves can indeed act as miniature lightning conductors, protecting the tree and nearby objects. today, holly is particularly associated with Christmas, featuring on innumerable Christmas cards, decorations and wreaths. the prickly leaves are thought to represent Christ’s crown of thorns while the berries signify Christ’s blood. these themes are reflected in the lyrics of the traditional Christmas carol – the Holly and the ivy.

Holly grows in most soil types in sunny or partial shade. if you want to add holly to your garden or local green space, holly saplings and ‘standard’ trees can be bought from many tree nurseries, and the Woodland trust also supplies cellgrown saplings. alternatively, you can try growing holly from cuttings or seed, the latter method being described on the tCV website

So, if you have a suitable spot and want to provide some food and shelter for wildlife, plus a splash of colour in winter, why not plant a few holly trees.