Plants by mail order since 1984, over 4100 plants online today
Nursery & Gardens open: Mon - Sat 8:30 - 17:00 & Sun 10:00 - 16:00
Pop up café: open weather dependent
- Shop Now
- Burncoose Specialities
- This Month
- Offers & Promotions
- RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024
- 40 years at Burncoose
- Engage With Us
- Information, Help & Advice
- About Us & Our Services
- Terms & Conditions
- Log In / Register
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/artwork/badges/award.64.png)
ILEX aquifolium
Commonly known as Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Further Reading....
-
EvergreenElliptic or ovate, glossy, dark-green leaves 5-10cm (2-4in) long. Leaves may be entire, wavy, spine-toothed or with spiny margins.
-
HeightTo 25m (82ft)
-
Spread8m (26ft)
-
HedgeIdeal for hedgingSuitable for a coastal hedge if some protection given from direct sea-winds
-
Tall ShrubTree or dense shrub. Usually erect or pyramidal. Long-lasting red, rarely orange or yellow berries.
-
Tree
-
Hardy - very cold winterHardy in all of UK and northern Europe. Plant can possibly withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F)
-
Full sun
-
Partial shade
ILEX aquifolium
- Details
- Mature Size
- Tips and Advice
- Goes Well With
- Planting Combinations
- Other Suggestions
- See Also...
-
Additional FeaturesBerriesThese plants have berries.When pollinatedGood to knowWildlife plant. Important as cover for small birds. Food for birds, holly blue butterfly caterpillars, moths. Makes a good hedge.Medicinal propertiesHolly leaves have diuretic properties and were also used in prescriptions for coughs and bronchitis.Pests & DiseasesScale insects, leaf miners.Place of originWestern and southern Europe, northern Africa, western Asia.
-
Garden Location/ConditionsCoastal / windsweptSlightly back from the sea with more shelter
-
HardinessFully hardy
-
Pruning groupPruning group 1Suitable for: Deciduous and evergreen trees, and some deciduous shrubs.
Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Prune wayward or crossing branches to maintain a healthy framework.
When: When dormant in the late winter/early spring. Some in the summer/autumn to prevent bleeding of sap.
-
Seasonal InterestAutumnSpringSummerWinter
-
Soil ConditionsFertile moist well-drained soilModerately fertile, humus-rich
-
Tree ShapeBroadly columnarConical
-
WildlifeBee friendlyBird friendlyButterfly friendly
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cold weather damage to evergreen plants
Ilex - Growing Guide
- Ilex Growing Guide
- Ilex propagation - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Ilex acquifolium 'Bacciflava' - Video Tip ondemand_video
- I. verticillata & dimorphophylla - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Ilex Species Article
Trees - Care Guide
- How to plant a tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- How to plant a tree
- Ties - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Restaking fallen young trees - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Fallen old tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Clearing up fallen beech tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Spring pruning - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing side shoots - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Pruning and Shaping Magnolia - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Deer protection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Weed Spraying - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing Ivy - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing wire protection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Tree Survey - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Crown uplift - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing shoots below graft - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing peeling bark - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Maintaining variegation - Video Tip ondemand_video
to 25m (82ft)
|
![]() |
![]() |
8m (26ft) |
Buy Varieties of ILEX aquifolium
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. ILEX aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/ilex_argenteomarginata.jpg)
ILEX aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'
Broad-leaved silver holly
female, silver variegated
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. ILEX aquifolium 'Bacciflava'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/ilex_aq_bacciflava_2323.jpg)
ILEX aquifolium 'Bacciflava'
Yellow-fruited holly
female. Yellow berries
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. ILEX aquifolium 'Ferox-Argentea'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/ilex_aquifolium_ferox_argentea_2324.jpg)
ILEX aquifolium 'Ferox-Argentea'
Silver hedgehog-holly
male, creamy-white leaf margins on convoluted and puckered leaves with large spines
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. ILEX aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/ilex_aquifolium_jc__van_tol.jpg)
ILEX aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol'
Common holly, English holly
female. Dark but almost spineless green leaves and red fruits
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. ILEX aquifolium 'Pyramidalis'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/ilex_aquifolium_piramidalis_5571.jpg)
ILEX aquifolium 'Pyramidalis'
Common holly
self-fertile, narrowly conical, upright, female form
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. ILEX aquifolium 'Silver Queen'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/ilex_silver_queen.jpg)
ILEX aquifolium 'Silver Queen'
Common holly, English holly
male. Cream-edged leaf
Useful extras...
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/Vitax_Q4_6202.jpg)
Fertilisers & Feeds - Vitax
Q4 Pelleted Fertiliser
A useful fertiliser suitable for use on a wide variety of plants. Q4 provides all the nutrients and trace elements essential for vigorous growth, abundant flowering and ripening of fruit.
3 options from £6.00
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/grow_your_own_front_22.jpg)
Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
Afterplant - Grow Your Own
AFTER PLANT GROW YOUR OWN seaweed is ready to use liquid concentrate that was specially formulated be used on all edible plants.
Only £8.00
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/tomatoe_front.jpg)
Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
Afterplant - Tomatoes
AFTER PLANT TOMATO FEED Liquid Concentrate with Bio stimulant is a high potash liquid concentrate containing seaweed extract, plant derived amino acids and other nutrients specifically formulated to benefit tomatoes and greenhouse plants.
Only £8.00
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/rootgrow_6203.jpg)
Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi
Recommended by the RHS. Contains Rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi. Suitable for all trees and shrubs (except rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, cranberries and blueberries)
3 options from £3.00
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/RootgrowEricoid_6204.jpg)
Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
Rootgrow Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi
This specially adapted Rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi will boost the growth of acid-loving plants like rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers and blueberries.
It contains ericoid and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which are found in poor acidic soils where ericaceous plants naturally grow.
Only £7.50
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/empathy-allpurpose_6208.jpg)
Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
All-purpose Seaweed Stimulant
All-purpose organic concentrated seaweed feed that is a ready to use, derived from sustainable harvested kelp, that can be used on all outdoor and indoor plants, except acid loving plants.
Perfect used in conjunction with Rootgrow™.
Only £7.50