Common Name: Holly
Genus & Species: Ilex aquifolium (de Candolle ex Richard).
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Range and Habitat: Holly is found in western Asia and Europe in the undergrowth of oak forest and beech forest in particular, although at times it can form a dense thicket as the dominant species. It is a relict species from the ancient laurel forests of pre-ice age Europe, and many species of holly remain in areas where there is relict laurel forest such as in Macaronesia and Georgia. In the British Isles it is one of very few native evergreen trees. It has a great capacity to adapt to different conditions and is a pioneer species that repopulates the margins of forests or clear-cuts. It requires moist, shady environments, found within forests or in shady slopes, cliffs, and mountain gorges.
Along the west coast of the United States and Canada, from California to British Columbia, non-native English Holly has proved very invasive, quickly spreading into native forest habitat, where it thrives in shade and crowds out native species. It has been placed on the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board's monitor list, and is a Class C invasive plant in Portland.
General ID: Holly grows to 10–25m tall with a woody stem as wide as 40–80cm, rarely 100 cm or more, in diameter. The leaves are 5–12cm long and 2–6cm broad; they are evergreen, lasting about five years, and are dark green on the upper surface and lighter on the underside, oval, leathery, shiny, and about 5 to 9 cm long. In the young and in the lower limbs of mature trees, the leaves have three to five sharp spines on each side, pointing alternately upward and downward, while leaves of the upper branches in mature trees lack spines.
The flowers are white, four-lobed, and pollinated by bees. Holly is dioecious, meaning that there are male plants and female plants. The sex cannot be determined until the plants begin flowering, usually between 4 and 12 years of age. In male specimens, the flowers are yellowish and appear in axillary groups. In the female, flowers are isolated or in groups of three and are small and white or slightly pink, and consist of four petals and four sepals partially fused at the base.
The fruit only appears on female plants, which require male plants nearby to fertilise them. The fruit is a drupe (stone fruit), about 6–10 mm in diameter, a bright red or bright yellow, which matures around October or November; at this time they are very bitter due to the ilicin content and so are rarely eaten until late winter after frost has made them softer and more palatable. They are eaten by rodents, birds and larger herbivores. Each fruit contains 3 to 4 seeds which do not germinate until the second or third spring.
Interestingly as a dioecious plant with numerous cultivars, including some of RHS garden merit, generally cultivars with the term ‘king’ are female and ‘queen’ are male.
For food… The whole plant is generally regarded as toxic and not recommended for consumption. That said, the leaves have been used as a tea substitute (particularly those of a related species, Yerba Maté (Ilex paraguariensis). The roasted fruit has been used as a coffee substitute.
For healing… The plant is purgative and emetic. This association is more vividly represented in a relative, Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) as might be inferred from the specific name.
Historically being used as a treatment for epilepsy and as an anti-malarial prior to the introduction of quinine, holly is little used in modern herbalism. The leaves are diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge and tonic. They can be use fresh at almost any time of the year or can be harvested in late spring and dried for later use. They are used in the treatment of intermittent fevers, rheumatism, catarrh, pleurisy etc. The juice of the fresh leaves has been successfully used in the treatment of jaundice. The berries are violently emetic and purgative. They have been used in the treatment of dropsy and as a powder they have been used as an astringent to check bleeding. The berries are toxic, especially to children, and should not be used medicinally except under professional supervision. The root has been used as a diuretic, though there are more effective diuretics available. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Hatred', 'Envy', 'Jealousy' and 'Suspicion'
In culture… Holly wood is the whitest of all woods, and is heavy, hard and fine-grained. It can be stained and polished and is used to make furniture or in engraving work. It is commonly used to make walking sticks. Holly wood also makes good firewood and burns with a strong heat.
Holly’s most famous association though, is with Christmas something which it inherited from the Roman festival of Saturnalia. In many Western Christian cultures, holly is a traditional Christmas decoration, used especially in wreaths and illustrations, for instance on Christmas cards and it is often referred to by the name Christ's thorn. Since medieval times the plant has carried a Christian symbolism, as expressed in the traditional Christmas carol "The Holly and the Ivy", in which the holly represents Jesus and the ivy represents the Virgin Mary. Angie Mostellar discusses the Christian use of holly at Christmas, stating that:
“Christians have identified a wealth of symbolism in its form. The sharpness of the leaves help to recall the crown of thorns worn by Jesus; the red berries serve as a reminder of the drops of blood that were shed for salvation; and the shape of the leaves, which resemble flames, can serve to reveal God's burning love for His people. Combined with the fact that holly maintains its bright colours during the Christmas season, it naturally came to be associated with the Christian holiday.”
In heraldry, holly is used to symbolize truth. The Norwegian municipality of Stord has a yellow twig of holly in its Coat-of-arms. The Druids held that "leaves of holly offered protection against evil spirits" and thus "wore holly in their hair". In the Harry Potter novels, holly is used as the wood in Harry's wand. In some traditions of Wicca, the Holly King is one of the faces of the Sun God. He is born at midsummer and rules from Mabon to Ostara.
For wildlife… Holly provides dense cover and good nesting opportunities for birds, while its deep, dry leaf litter may be used by hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and small mammals for hibernation.
The flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the holly blue butterfly (Celastrina argiolus), along with those of various moths, including the yellow-barred brindle (Acasis viretata), double-striped pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) and the holly tortrix (Rhopobota naevana). The smooth leaves found at the tops of holly trees are a winter source of food for deer.
The berries are a vital source of food for birds in winter, and small mammals, such as wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and dormice. The berries are an important food source for many birds like Redwings (Turdus iliacus) and Fieldfares (Turdus piliaris); indeed, Mistle thrushes (Turdus viscivorus) guard their own berry-laden bushes with such voracity that they'll chase off any potential thieves.
At FFPG… At FFPG Holly can be found in the ethnobotanical bed area, with one native wild form and a variegated cultivar being present.
Disclaimer
This is intended for information only. FFPG, its staff, trustees and volunteers do not make any claim as to the safety or efficacy of plants listed for medicinal purposes and do not encourage the consumption or use of any of the plants listed herein. Anybody wishing to use plants for medicinal effect is advised to consult their medical professional.
Holly flowers (male)