Holly: A Decoration Not Just for Christmas

The holly genus (Ilex) includes several hundred plant species. In our region, only frost-resistant species and cultivars can grow and survive the winter. We can choose from species with dark glossy leaves with spines, cultivars with variegated or even rounded leaves. Some species also have, for example, yellow or black berries instead of red ones.

It's important to note that most holly species grown in our region are evergreen, so they will provide a colorful element in the garden all year round. Moreover, they last very long as decoration in a vase indoors or, for example, dried on wreaths - thanks to their rigid leaves, they retain both shape and color when dried.

Holly and Tradition

Holly has been attributed many magical properties since ancient times. The ancient Druids considered it a sacred plant.

In paintings, holly often appears together with the robin - according to one Celtic legend, it was this small bird that brought fire to humans. A burning holly twig burned the robin's breast in July, and that's why it has had a red color ever since.

Holly was also believed to have the power to protect against witches and black magic. That's why house thresholds were made from its wood and hollies were planted in front of entrances and as hedges, so that evil could not enter.

In England, floating candles on holly leaves (similar to our walnut shells) was also part of Christmas traditions.

Holly was also used for divination - girls would write boys' names on holly leaves and place them under their pillows. In the morning, they would pull out one of them, and the one whose name was on the leaf was to become their future groom.

Choose Your Holly

Several different species can be grown in our region, each with several cultivars.

The best known and most commonly grown is English holly (Ilex aquifolium). It is an evergreen plant with glossy, serrated leaves with spines. It blooms in May or June with small white or green flowers. The berries of this holly are bright red and remain on the shrub from summer until the following spring.

There are many cultivars, among the well-known ones we can mention, for example, two self-pollinating varieties (hollies are usually dioecious, see holly cultivation) Pyramidalis (suitable as a specimen plant) and Alaska.

Cultivars with variegated leaves are also often grown - the variety with golden leaf edges is Rubricaulis Aurea or Golden Queen, with white edges Handsworth New Silver and Argenteomarginata. The varieties Golden Milkboy, Silver Milkboy and Argenteo Mediopicta have variegated leaf centers.

Thanks to their spiny leaves, hollies are excellent plants for creating hedges. They grow densely, are green even in winter, their berries shine beautifully and provide food for birds. At the same time, no one and nothing can get through the prickly leaves.

Another representative is the Japanese holly (Ilex crenata), which has leaves similar to the English holly, but additionally wavy. The berries of this holly are perfectly black, but they don't remain on the branches as long. The Golden Rock variety has leaves with a golden sheen.

Oval or egg-shaped leaves without spines characterize the winterberry (Ilex verticillata). In autumn, it displays beautiful yellow and red tones, but the disadvantage is that it sheds its leaves in winter. However, its fruits remain on the tree and shine with a red color.

Modern cultivars with a bluish tint to their leaves, created by crossing different species, are popular. These include, for example, the Blue Angel cultivar, which stands out for its leaf coloring and fruit production, has compact growth, but is less frost-resistant. In contrast, the fast-growing American holly (Ilex opaca) has very good frost resistance.

Cultivation

Hollies usually grow relatively slowly, but in good conditions they can reach heights of over 10 meters. However, they are usually grown as shrubs. They thrive better in group plantings than as solitary specimens, thanks to maintaining the microclimate between plants.

The soil for holly should be slightly acidic and sufficiently humus-rich, with the exception of English holly, which prefers light neutral or alkaline soils.

Hollies require a constant moderate water supply, so they benefit from watering during dry periods. However, they don't tolerate overwatering, which must be monitored especially with plants grown in pots. Due to their tough leaves, it's difficult to estimate water deficiency or excess, as the leaves don't soften or droop. We fertilize once a year, in spring, with fertilizer for deciduous trees.

We select a location for holly in shade or partial shade; they will grow well even under taller trees. Direct sunlight can burn holly leaves, even in winter. If this danger threatens, covering the plant with non-woven fabric helps.

We plant hollies preferably in spring, so they have time to root before winter. In summer, we can shape the holly by pruning; in winter, we protect young seedlings from severe frosts. Mature plants usually tolerate frost well, and in case of frost damage, they easily sprout again.

Holly propagation was a secret for a long time. Seeds from the fruits don't germinate. Only later was it discovered that for germination, seeds must pass through the digestive system of birds (just like mistletoe, for example). Hollies can also be propagated by cuttings, where new plants retain all the characteristics of the original plant.

When growing holly, it's important to realize that most varieties are dioecious, meaning you need both male and female plants for pollination. So if you want to see colorful berries, you must plant at least two plants of opposite sexes. However, one male plant is sufficient to pollinate all female plants in a wide area.

Holly - Medicinal Yet Poisonous

When growing holly in the garden, it's essential to protect children from consuming holly berries. While these berries are tasty for birds, they are poisonous to humans. Even just a few berries can cause very serious complications.

On the other hand, chopped holly leaves are used to prepare medicinal tea. This tea helps against cough, flu and colds, regulates blood sugar levels and supports kidney function.

From the leaves of one holly species, the well-known Maté tea is also prepared. This comes from Paraguayan holly, which is however heat-loving and therefore cannot be grown outdoors in our climate. Tea from this plant is known for its ability to awaken new energy in you and prevent drowsiness, with effects similar to coffee, often even stronger. Moreover, it has a positive effect on memory and body immunity, and contains vitamins and antioxidants. We can grow this holly as an indoor or balcony plant.