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ILEX aquifolium
Commonly known as Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Further Reading....
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EvergreenElliptic or ovate, glossy, dark-green leaves 5-10cm (2-4in) long. Leaves may be entire, wavy, spine-toothed or with spiny margins.
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HeightTo 25m (82ft)
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Spread8m (26ft)
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HedgeIdeal for hedgingSuitable for a coastal hedge if some protection given from direct sea-winds
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Tall ShrubTree or dense shrub. Usually erect or pyramidal. Long-lasting red, rarely orange or yellow berries.
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Tree
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Hardy - very cold winterHardy in all of UK and northern Europe. Plant can possibly withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F)
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Full sun
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Partial shade
ILEX aquifolium
- Details
- Mature Size
- Tips and Advice
- Goes Well With
- Planting Combinations
- Other Suggestions
- See Also...
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Additional FeaturesBerriesThese plants have berries.Good 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.
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Garden Location/ConditionsCoastal / windsweptSlightly back from the sea with more shelter
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HardinessFully hardy
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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.
RHS group 1 -
Seasonal InterestAutumnSpringSummerWinter
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Soil ConditionsFertile moist well-drained soil
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Tree ShapeBroadly columnarConical
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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)
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8m (26ft) |
Buy Varieties of ILEX aquifolium


ILEX aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'
Broad-leaved silver holly
female, silver variegated

ILEX aquifolium 'Atlas'
Common holly, English holly
male clone with dark green spiny leaves

ILEX aquifolium 'Bacciflava'
Yellow-fruited holly
female. Yellow berries


ILEX aquifolium 'Ferox-Argentea'
Silver hedgehog-holly
male, creamy-white leaf margins on convoluted and puckered leaves with large spines

ILEX aquifolium 'Golden van Tol'
Common holly, English holly
female. Pyramidal habit, yellow edged foliage and orange berries


ILEX aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol'
Common holly, English holly
female. Dark but almost spineless green leaves and red fruits


ILEX aquifolium 'Pyramidalis'
Common holly
self-fertile, narrowly conical, upright, female form


ILEX aquifolium 'Silver Queen'
Common holly, English holly
male. Cream-edged leaf
Useful extras...

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

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)
2 options from £6.00

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