Practical
Plants

Ilex aquifolium

Holly

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Ilex genus in the family Aquifoliaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Ilex
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
9 m
Spread
5 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fruit and probaby other parts of the plant contain saponins and are toxic, causing diarrhoea, vomiting and stupor[2][19]. However, toxicity levels are low and it is only in very large doses that problems are likely to arise[27][30].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves have been used as a tea substitute[23]. The roasted fruit has been used as a coffee substitute[28]. Some caution is advised here, since the fruit can be purgative and emetic[K].

Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Holly is little used in modern herbalism. The leaves are diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge and tonic[23][33][14]. They can be use fresh at almost any time of the year or can be harvested in late spring and dried for later use[23][33]. They are used in the treatment of intermittent fevers, rheumatism, catarrh, pleurisy etc[23][16][18]. The juice of the fresh leaves has been successfully used in the treatment of jaundice[23]. The berries are violently emetic and purgative[23][28]. They have been used in the treatment of dropsy and as a powder they have been used as an astringent to check bleeding[23]. The berries are toxic, especially to children, and should not be used medicinally except under professional supervision[18]. The root has been used as a diuretic, though there are more effective diuretics available[28]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Hatred', 'Envy', 'Jealousy' and 'Suspicion'[13].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Bach
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Purgative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An excellent hedge plant, tolerating hard clipping and maritime exposure and forming a dense stock-proof shelter[23][4][21][29][9]. Plants are fairly slow growing however[4]. The cultivar 'Pendula' makes a very good carpeting ground cover plant when grown as a cutting on its own roots[12]. It can be planted up to 1.2 metres apart each way, but is fairly slow to cover the ground[12]. Wood - strong, hard and dense, it polishes well, though it must be well dried and seasoned or else it warps badly. It is beautifully white, except at the centre of very old trees, and is highly regarded by cabinet makers though it must be well seasoned[23][28][24][26]. The heartwood of mature trees is used for printing blocks, engravings, turnery etc[4][5]. The wood makes a good fuel, burning well even when green[25].

Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy, Soil surface

Ground cover

Hedge

Environment

Range
Western and central Europe, including Britain, from Norway to Germany south to the Mediterranean.
Habitat
Found in most well-drained soils in scrub, hedges and woodland where it is often the dominant under-storey shrub[28].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure, drought
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. It can take 18 months to germinate. Stored seed generally requires two winters and a summer before it will germinate and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. Scarification, followed by a warm stratification and then a cold stratification may speed up the germination time[31][32]. The seedlings are rather slow-growing. Pot them up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame for their first year. It is possible to plant them out into a nursery bed in late spring of the following year, but they should not be left here for more than two years since they do not like being transplanted. Alternatively, grow them on in their pots for a second season and then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Give them a good mulch and some protection for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of almost ripe wood with a heel, August in a shaded position in a cold frame. Leave for 12 months before potting up. Layering in October. Takes 2 years.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils, including peat, chalk, gravels, sand and shales[9], so long as they are not water-logged, though wild plants are occasionally found in situations with standing winter water[9]. Grows well in heavy clay soils[9]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant[9]. Dislikes dry soils according to one report[22] whilst another says that it succeeds in dry shade[10]. Tolerates a pH range from 3.5 to 7.2[9]. Succeeds in full sun or fairly dense shade[6][20][22], self-sown seedlings from woods and shady places making the most shade tolerant plants[20]. Tolerant of maritime exposure[29] though in such a situation it may lose some or all its leaves in the winter[9]. Plants require a minimum July temperature of 12°c for good fruit production[9]. They tolerate short periods in winter down to -15°c[8]. Severe frosts can kill whole branches, especially if they are open to the sky[9]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[7]. Flowers and fruits are formed on wood of the previous year's growth[15]. A good bee plant[3], the minute flowers are sweetly scented[17]. The fruit is a valuable winter food source for birds. Resents root disturbance, especially as the plants get older[4]. It is best to place the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, perhaps giving some winter protection for their first year or two[K]. Only move the plants in May or, preferably, in September[1]. Plants are quite slow growing, even when in good soils and situations[4][29]. Trees are usually dioecious but hermaphrodite forms are available. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required. Plants are capable of regenerating from the main stem both above and below ground level and, although the top may be killed in a fire, the plants will usually regrow from the base[9]. Rabbits are particularly fond of this species and will quickly remove the bark. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8

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  3. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

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  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

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  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  7. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

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  9. Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  10. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  12. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  13. Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. 1985-00-00 ISBN 85207 002 0

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  14. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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  15. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

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  16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

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  17. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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  18. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  19. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

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  20. Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-900629-78-9

    ↩1↩2

  21. Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0900629649

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  22. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

    ↩1↩2

  23. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  24. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  25. Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2

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  26. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  27. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  28. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  29. Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  30. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

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  31. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

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  32. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

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  33. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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