What is English holly?
English holly is a broadleaf evergreen tree or shrub that is grown as a landscape plant in the northwestern United States and Canada but is also commonly found escaping into forests in this region. English holly's native range is the British Isles to southern and central Europe.
Is holly native to North America?
Although English holly plants are native to Europe, they are cultivated in forests, parks, gardens and plains around the globe. English holly grows in several of the American states.
Where do holly trees grow in the UK?
The lovely trees are common throughout Britain, where you can find entire forests of them. You can also find them in western and southern Europe and western Asia. These hollies can be identified as either large shrubs or else small trees. The typical height of English holly plants is only 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 m.).
Is Holly a tree or a shrub?
These hollies can be identified as either large shrubs or else small trees. The typical height of English holly plants is only 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 m.). The deeply lobed leaves are the primary joy for those growing English hollies. They grow in densely, a deep, shiny green.
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Where is English holly found?
Native to Europe, northern Africa and Asia, English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is prized and grown for its bright red berries and spiny, dark green evergreen foliage.
Where is holly originally from?
Female flowers develop into rich red berries, which remain on the tree throughout winter. Holly is native to the UK. Holly branches have been used for many years to decorate homes in winter.
What is the difference between English holly and American holly?
English holly (I. aquifolium) — This species is smaller than the American holly, topping out at around 35 feet. It has glossy, spiny leaves as opposed to the larger, duller, non-glossy foliage of the American holly. The leaves on both species have very sharp thorn-like spines on their margins.
Is English holly a tree or bush?
English holly (I. aquifolium), a tree growing to 15 metres (nearly 50 feet) tall, bears shining spiny dark evergreen leaves and usually red fruits.
Is holly a English name?
Holly is a girl's name of British origin. Called after the holly tree, this botanical name has been around since the early 20th century. Symbolically, the holly tree represents the thorny crown of Jesus Christ and is strongly associated with Christmas.
What does the name holly mean in English?
Holly Overview Meaning: The name comes from the holly plant and means resilience and eternal life. Gender: Holly is a girl name but can be a nickname for boy names. Origin: Holly comes from the Old English word “holegn.” Pronunciation: “Hol-ee” Popularity: Holly is a popular name, but was very popular in the 80s.
Is English holly invasive?
Holly Isn't Noxious, But it is Invasive Very few culturally and economically significant species receive the noxious weed designation. Although not listed as noxious, holly is widely recognized as an invasive plant in our region.
What is the hardiest holly?
Blue Prince and Blue Princess are among the hardiest of the evergreen hollies. Blue Girl and Blue Boy are supposed to be equally hardy and a little faster growing. As I mentioned, you need both the male and female plants to have fruit. Plant the evergreen holly in a protected location free from winter wind and sun.
Is English holly fast growing?
If you're looking for a shrub that will establish quickly in your garden, don't opt for English Holly. This shrub is slow-growing. But, once established, it can thrive for decades in the right position with very little maintenance.
How fast do English holly trees grow?
Size and Appearance. The Variegated English Holly is a bushy tree that will grow up to 18 inches a year, so that within 10 years it will be 15 feet tall.
What is so special about a holly tree?
Holly is well known for its ability to deter evil spirits and witches... This may come originally from its evergreen nature; when all else in the winter wood appeared dead and lifeless, holly remained green and full of berries, giving hope for new life in the spring.
Is English holly poisonous?
Leaves and berries are low toxicity.
Is holly native to Japan?
Japanese Holly is a handsome, evergreen shrub in the Aquifoliaceae family. It is a native of Japan and east Asia and can be found in thickets, woods and wet places in lowland and mountains all over Japan.
What is the story behind holly?
Before holly was hung in houses to accompany Christmas trees, it was considered to be a sacred plant by the Druids. The Druids regarded holly as a symbol of fertility and eternal life, thought to have magical powers. Today, Christians have adopted the holly tree as a symbol for Christmas.
What name is holly short for?
Holly is known as an English or Irish surname (variant Holley) it is either locational, ultimately derived from the Old English hol lēah "[dwelling by] the clearing by the hollow", or descriptive, from hol-ēage "hollow-eyed"....From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.OriginMeaninglocation name, reference to the holly tree2 more rows
What type of soil does English Holly like?
Soil. English Holly isn't terribly particular when it comes to the type of soil it will grow in. Providing it's well-drained, it will manage in heavy clay and infertile ground. It can also cope with a variety of ph levels and can thrive in very acidic soils.
What is a common holly?
Common Holly is a dioecious species which relies on bees, birds and other wildlife for cross-pollination in the wild.
What is the name of the evergreen shrub that is associated with Christmas?
Gemma Johnstone is a freelance writer with 15 years of experience working in the pet industry. She writes about gardening and lives in Italy. English Holly ( Ilex aquifolium) is the Holly plant species commonly associated with Christmas.
How tall does a Christmas holly tree grow?
Also sometimes referred to as Christmas Holly or Common Holly, this slow-growing, ornamental, densely-branched evergreen tree can easily grow up to ten meters. It can also be trained to grow as a tall shrub.
When do holly berries ripen?
Holly berries ripen in fall and remain on the branches throughout winter. They make an excellent food source for wildlife during this period. You're likely to see lots of birds congregating around your holly bush in the colder months.
Is English Holly a drought tolerant shrub?
Water. English Holly is a fairly drought-tolerant shrub. It will, however, prefer moist but not waterlogged conditions in the warmer months, and should be kept drier when the colder temperatures hit.
Can English Holly grow in a garden?
If you're looking for a shrub that will establish quickly in your garden, don't go for English Holly - this shrub is slow-growing. But, once established, it can thrive for decades in the right position with very little maintenance.
Characteristics
English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is an evergreen tree or shrub with leaves that are stiff, glossy, wavy, and spiny. Between April and June, they bloom small flowers that are white, 4-petaled, grow in clusters, and smell sweet. Their classic orange to red holly berries grow in clusters and last through the winter.
What is Oxbow doing about English holly?
At Oxbow, English holly is a zero tolerance weed in our lowland forests. But unfortunately, it is well established in pockets of our upland forests. Currently we haven’t prioritized removing these trees from our uplands. We are just monitoring their spread. Our lowlands are relatively holly-free and we intend to keep it that way.
What you can do about English holly on your property
This is up to your preference and the city that you live in. Some cities have banned private landowners from planting English holly. But there is no county-wide rule against growing holly as an ornamental tree. If you do decide to remove English holly from your property, be very aware of its tendency to re-sprout with cutting.
Why Is It a Noxious Weed?
This plant is on the monitor list - it is not a listed noxious weed in Washington. Please contact its sponsor Sasha Shaw at [email protected] to report locations or for more information.
How Do I Control It?
Please refer to the PNW Weed Management Handbook, or contact your county noxious weed coordinator.
For More Information
Article: Pictures of an invasion: English holly ( Ilex aquifolium) in a semi-natural Pacific Northwest forest
What is an English holly?
English holly plants ( Ilex aquifolium) are the quintessential hollies, short broadleaf evergreen trees with dense, dark-green glossy leaves. Females produce bright berries. If you are interested in growing English hollies or just want a few more English holly facts, read on. You’ll also find some tips on English holly plant care.
Where do English holly trees grow?
English holly grows in several of the American states. These include California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Washington.
How tall do English hollies grow?
These hollies can be identified as either large shrubs or else small trees. The typical height of English holly plants is only 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 m.). The deeply lobed leaves are the primary joy for those growing English hollies. They grow in densely, a deep, shiny green. Look out, though.
What color are English Holly berries?
All female English holly plants produce fragrant flowers in early summer. These develop into bright berries in red, orange, yellow and white. Red is the most common shade.
Do English Holly trees need wet soil?
These plants absolutely require well-draining soil, so don’t disappoint them. They may not make it through one season if they are planted in wet soil . English holly plant care isn’ t difficult if you site the tree correctly. Printer Friendly Version.
Can hollies tolerate heat?
If you are in one of those zones, you can go ahead. Plant hollies in full sun or partial sun but remember that they do not tolerate extreme heat very well. In hotter climates, a partial shade location will be better. These plants absolutely require well-draining soil, so don’t disappoint them.
How do English holly trees survive?
The very traits so prized by gardeners—hardiness, adaptability, and wildlife support—are the same qualities that make English holly a potential problem as birds distribute the seeds throughout parks and forests without respect for property lines. Once a seedling matures into a sapling, survival is almost guaranteed. If this sapling is a female, and if there is a male tree nearby to enable fertilization, more berries are produced and the cycle repeats itself. An extensive, deep root system enables the plant to withstand tough conditions. And like Western red cedar, English holly can sprout new shoots from branches lying on the ground, creating dense, difficult-to-eradicate thickets where it competes for space and nutrients to the detriment of native plant communities.
What is the habit of holly?
A vigorous growth habit and the ability to thrive in sun or shade all English holly to form dense thickets in the forest understory to the detriment of native plants. Photo: Andrea Watts
Is English Holly a dominant understory species?
My research focuses upon whether stand characteristics such as tree spacing or volume can be used to predict English holly’s presence within a forest. Other researchers predict that English holly may eventually become the dominant understory species within City parks and forests, which could have long-term implications for the structure of Pacific Northwest forests.
Is English Holly a tree?
English holly is an evergreen plant that can grow as a tree or sculpted into hedges to form a living fence. Its red berries provide a speckling of color in the dark green foliage and provide a valuable food source for birds who find refuge within the dense branches. A shade-tolerant understory in its native European deciduous forests, English holly grows equally well in sun or shade in the Pacific Northwest, where our mild climate provides ideal growing conditions.
Is English Holly a hardy plant?
English holly is a versatile, hardy plant combi ning year-round beauty and wildlife appeal. But when it escapes cultivation it can become an uninvited pest.
Is English Holly a noxious weed?
In 2010, King County submitted a proposal to the Noxious Weed Control board (NWCB) asking that English holly be designated a class C noxious weed so counties could educate citizens about the plant’s potential negative impact on the landscape. Steven Burke, speaking on behalf of King County, presented an Earthcorps survey of Seattle’s urban forests at an NWCB meeting. The survey reported that English holly occupies 320 stems per acre; in the City’s coniferous forests, English holly represents over 60 percent of all tree regeneration. From 2007 to 2009, Seattle Public Utilities spent nearly $90,000 to eradicate English holly at Lake Youngs. Arguments against the noxious weed classification were offered by people living around holly farms who did not find the plant to be invasive and holly farmers who maintained that they could control the plant with chainsaws.
Learn about this topic in these articles
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 somewhat taller American holly ( I. opaca) has oblong prickly leaves and usually red fruits. There are spineless and yellow-fruited forms…
description
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 somewhat taller American holly ( I. opaca) has oblong prickly leaves and usually red fruits. There are spineless and yellow-fruited forms…
Where is the common holly native to?
Ilex aquifolium, the holly, common holly, English holly, European holly, or occasionally Christmas holly, is a species of flowering plant in the family Aquifoliaceae, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia. It is regarded as the type species of the genus Ilex, ...
What biome was Holly in?
Holly was a typical representative species of this biome, where many current species of the genus Ilex were present.
What is the name of the holly that is associated with Christmas?
Ilex aquifolium is the species of holly long associated with Christmas, and previously the Roman festival of Saturnalia. Its glossy green prickly leaves and bright red berries (produced only by the female plant) are represented in wreaths, garlands and cards wherever Christmas is celebrated.
What is the use of Ilex aquifolium?
Between the thirteenth and eighteenth centuries, before the introduction of turnips, Ilex aquifolium was cultivated for use as winter fodder for cattle and sheep. Less spiny varieties of holly were preferred, and in practice the leaves growing near the top of the tree have far fewer spines, making them more suitable for fodder.
How big does Ilex grow?
Ilex aquifolium grows to 10–25 m (33–82 ft) tall with a woody stem as wide as 40–80 cm (16–31 in), rarely 100 cm (39 in) or more, in diameter. The leaves are 5–12 cm long and 2–6 cm broad; they are evergreen, lasting about five years, and are dark green on the upper surface and lighter on the underside, oval, leathery, shiny, ...
Where is Ilex from?
Ilex × alteclerensis. The hybrid Ilex × altaclerensis was developed at Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England, in 1835, a cross between I. aquifolium and the tender species I. perado. The following cultivars have gained the RHS AGM:-. 'Belgica Aurea'.
Where is Ilex aquifolium grown?
Ilex aquifolium is widely grown in parks and gardens in temperate regions. Hollies are often used for hedges; the spiny leaves make them difficult to penetrate, and they take well to pruning and shaping.
What is the genus of Holly?
Holly, (genus Ilex ), genus of some 600 species of shrubs and trees in the family Aquifoliaceae, distributed nearly worldwide. Several species are cultivated as ornamentals for their distinctive foliage and red or black fruits, which persist into winter and are popular Christmas decorations.
How many species of holly are there?
Aquifoliaceae, the holly family, in the order Aquifoliales, found worldwide, comprising two genera and about 400 species of shrubs and trees, best known for the genus Ilex ( see holly). Four species of Byronia are in the Polynesian and Australian area, and only one species of mountain holly ( Nemopanthus mucronatus) is….
How tall is a holly tree?
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 somewhat taller American holly(I. opaca) has oblong prickly leaves and usually red fruits. There are spineless and yellow-fruited forms of both species.
