We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. The red-fruited holly (Ilex opaca) used in Christmas decorations is an evergreen tree that can grow to over 30 metres (100 feet) tall. Inkberry hollies (Ilex glabra) are black-fruited evergreens that grow no more than 1.8 metres (6 feet) tall. holly tree image by Mary Lane from Fotolia.com. The holly tree is also considered sacred among those who practice Witchcraft. In some areas,  there is some evidence that it was used to feed deer. In April, the Holly blue butterfly can be seen flitting around holly bushes on which it lays its eggs; in autumn these young lay next years generation on Ivy! in diameter, but it frequently divides near the ground, giving rise to multiple smaller stems growing close together. An early reference to the use of Holly at Christmas time can be found in Stowe's 'Survey of London' (1598)  which says 'every man's house, ….. the corners of streets were decorated with holme' (holme = holly). The holly tree is a member of the Ilex genus and comes in a wide range of shapes and sizes. The bark of holly is grey and smooth, becoming somewhat fissured with age. American Holly (ilex opaca): looking very much like English varieties, these tend to grow slightly larger and have duller and wider leaves.They are native to the United States and their stems are used in Christmas celebrations. Stay in touch with Tree2mydoor. The presence of large amounts of holly growing in hedgerows is a good indicator that historically moss lands existed nearby. The places name ‘Holm’ and ‘Hollin’ refers to sites where holly grew. The wood is essentially white (except for the heart wood) and accepts dyes readily - so when dyed black, it was sometimes used as a substitute for ebony (on the handles of tea pots). We visited How Hill Farm, on the edge of the Norfolk Broads, and spoke to Nick Coller who grows and harvests holly for the festive season.Here, we talk about the farm, caring for holly, and Nick recommends his six favourite varieties. VAT No. On the Continent, it was used in making whip handles and walking sticks. Follow our expert recommendations to find out how to look after your holly trees. We usually send them once a month. Holly likes damp ground and should not be grown in pots. By continuing, you agree to receive cookies on our website. It can be grown as a specimen tree, a clipped bush or a hedge. Most spines are produced lower down were sheep, goats, cattle, horses and deer are likely to browse the leaves. Leafminers, such as black flies, can damage the leaves of the holly tree and prevent them from growing properly. Our Holly Tree Gift is great to send for a year-round gift but is especially perfect for a winter birthday or Christmas. There are several different types of holly, the commonest being:. Mites and scales can alter the appearance of the holly tree's leaves, turning them a shade of yellow. the valley of death) came to take vengeance on us for their sister whose name was Cullen wide mouth”. Only female trees produce bright red berries. All ilex species are dioecious, meaning fruit production requires two plants, one with male flowers and one with female flowers. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Take a look at our Holly Tree Care Guide for information and advice on looking after your tree. We promise not to pass on your details to anyone else. Posted in: Flora & Fauna ~ On: 8 December, 2011. Seed production is greatest in trees over 40 years old, especially in a mast year, when large quantities of berries will be produced. Life expectancy for flowering cherry trees→, What Kind of Bugs Attack Weeping Willow Trees?→. Some of the insects known to harm the holly tree include leafminers, leaf feeders, mites, scales and spittlebugs. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you are choosing a holly for your garden, size matters. As Holly was full in leaf and bright with berries at a time when all other trees (bar yew, which was thought immortal anyway) it was seen as a representation of life in midwinter. It became bad luck to cut down a holly tree (a sentiment that persists to this day) and in some areas holly bushes were allowed to grow up through hedges to prevent the movement of witches, who apparently love to run along hedge-tops. Available free here », © 2020 Woodland Investment Management Ltd | Considered to have protective powers in the Gaelic culture, holly has been widely cultivated for a long time, and as a result many different forms now exist with variegated leaves etc. Holly has been used to decorate homes and holy places for centuries, indeed millennia. The larvae feeds within the midrib, moving towards the leaf-tip, until January, when it emerges into the leaf blade and makes its familiar tunnel through the centre of the leaf.