Tree
Holly
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in May | Flowers in June | ||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in March | Plant in April | Plant in October | Plant in November | ||||||||
| Prune | Prune in July | Prune in August | ||||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in January | Looks good in February | Looks good in November | Looks good in December |
Overview
Ilex aquifolium is the native evergreen of woodland and hedgerow, with glossy, spiny leaves, small white spring flowers and scarlet winter berries. Each plant is either male or female, and the names can mislead: 'Golden King' is female, while 'Silver Queen' and 'Golden Queen' are male. 'J.C. van Tol' is a useful almost spineless form that berries on its own, 'Argentea Marginata' is a cream-edged female, and 'Ferox', the hedgehog holly, has spines on the leaf surface too. Holly grows slowly but can live for centuries.
Where to grow holly
Holly tolerates almost any soil that is not waterlogged, from sun to deep shade, along with wind and coastal exposure. It makes a dense, intruder-proof hedge, a clipped standard or a free-growing tree. Variegated forms keep their colour best in good light. Avoid planting spiny kinds beside paths.
Planting
Plant in mid-autumn or early spring when the soil is moist. Holly resents root disturbance, so choose young container plants, plant at the original depth and water through the first summer. For hedges, set plants about 45–60 cm apart.
Care through the year
Spring
Mulch young plants and feed hedges with a general fertiliser.
Summer
Water newly planted holly in dry spells; it is slow to establish.
Autumn
Plant a male within easy reach of females if berries have been sparse.
Winter
Cut berried sprigs for Christmas decorations, taking from all round the plant to keep the shape.
Pruning
Trim hedges and topiary in late summer once nesting birds have finished. Free-standing trees need only dead or wayward branches removed. Holly regrows well from old wood, so overgrown specimens can be cut back hard in spring. Remove any plain green shoots on variegated plants.
Propagation
Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or early autumn. Seed is slow, often germinating only after two winters outdoors.
Common problems
Holly leaf miner leaves pale, winding blotches in leaves; pick off affected leaves on small plants. Scale insects and holly leaf blight, which causes black spots and leaf drop, can also occur.
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in March, April, July, August, October and November. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.