20% off
20% off
Ilex aquifolium
English holly
English holly has spiny, glossy, dark green leaves and bright red berries often lasting from early autumn into winter. A...
Plant description
To find out more about how to plant a hedge, click here
Eventual height & spread
Flowering period
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Plant features
Position
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth
Average
Soil
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness
Fully hardy
How to care for Ilex aquifolium:
Trim hedges at the end of the bird nesting season in late summer. If nests are present, wait until the fledglings have flown before trimming. If holly is being grown as a formal hedge, we advise using a hedge clipping guide - string tied between two posts works well. Wear suitable protective clothing when clipping holly (such as strong gloves and eye guards). After trimming, apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base of the plants.
Warning
GOES WELL WITH
How to create a wildlife-friendly garden
Wildlife-friendly gardens are not only more interesting as you can watch all the comings and goings, but they are often more productive as many creatures will help increase pollination. Garden ponds act as a magnet to dragonflies and damsel flies, along w
Read full articleAugust pruning of trees, shrubs and climbers
Late summer is the best time to prune many midsummer-flowering shrubs to keep them vigorous and flowering well. It is also the ideal time to prune several trees that are prone to bleeding if pruned at other times, and it’s not too late to complete the pru
Read full articlePlanting a hedge
Hedges by their very nature are often planted in exposed positions, so the secret of successful establishment is to make sure that they are well protected from prevailing winds for the first few years. Carefully planting and covering the surface of the so
Read full articleHolly - a must for winter berries
The holly is an iconic plant that likes to share the forest floor with the mighty oak, so this slow-grower prefers good drainage. Our prickly native form, Ilex aquifolium, takes its species name from Aquila the eagle indicating the talon-like sharpness of
Read full articleThe King of evergreens
The holly reigns supreme in winter, but there are decisions to be made. If you want berries you can’t close clip and topiarise because you’ll cut away the flowers. You have to allow your to flourish on its own, with just a yearly spring trim, in order to
Read full articlePlants birds love in the winter garden
As frost descends and the leaves gather on the lawn, the most important colour is red because it glows against the backdrop of fading stems in muddy shades of khaki, grey and brown. Red’s the colour that fixes the rest of the palette and luckily red berri
Read full article