Shrubs🌿 Native to the NetherlandsVery hardy — tolerates frost down to -20°C

Holly

Ilex aquifolium

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Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a native, evergreen shrub or small tree. The species naturally grows in deciduous forests, forest edges, hedgerows, hedges, shrubberies, dune forests and old forest planting. The leaves are leathery, glossy dark green and often prickly-toothed, especially on young or low branches. In May and June, Holly blooms with small white to slightly pink flowers in the leaf axils. The species is dioecious: male and female flowers usually grow on separate plants. Only female plants form red berries, provided there is a male plant nearby. Holly fits well in evergreen hedges, bird shrubberies, shade gardens, forest edges, garden planting and native mixed hedges.

Year calendar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
🌸Blooms
🐝Provides nectar
🍓Bears fruit
🍂Has autumn colour

Pruning period

✂️Best pruning period: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
✂️ Pruning period

Best pruning period

Holly tolerates pruning well. Prune lightly in the spring or at the end of the summer to maintain the shape. For berries, it is better not to prune away all flowering or fruit-bearing branches.

Botanical profile

Site & soil

Half shade, Shade, Sun

Soil type: Humus-rich, Sand, Sand, Loam, Humus-rich

Moisture need: Dry, Moderately moist, Moist

pH: Acidic (<5.5), Slightly acidic (5.5–6.5), Neutral (6.5–7.5)

Nutrient richness: Nutrient-poor, Moderately nutrient-rich

Humus content: Moderately humus-rich, Humus-rich

Water drainage: Well draining, Moisture-retentive

Appearance & season

Mature height: 400-1000cm

Bloom: May-Jun

Autumn colour: No striking autumn color. Holly is evergreen and retains its glossy, leathery leaves all year round.

Properties

Salt sensitive: No

Edible: No

Scent: The flowers have a light, subtle sweet scent. The scent is not strong, but the small white flowers attract bees, hoverflies and other insects.

Ecological value

Holly is valuable due to the evergreen cover, late berries and dense shrub structure. The flowers are visited by bees, hoverflies, flies and other small insects. The red berries are toxic to humans, but can be eaten by birds in late winter, especially when other food becomes scarcer. The dense, prickly and evergreen growth offers shelter and nesting for small birds all year round. Holly provides a lot of structure in forest edges, hedges and shady gardens and is therefore a strong species for year-round biodiversity.

Food web & Biodiversity

🐛 Caterpillars & mothsLimited

🐝 Bees & bumblebeesUseful

🪰 HoverfliesUseful

🦋 ButterfliesUseful

🪲 Beetles & insectsVery useful

🐦 BirdsExtremely useful

🐿️ MammalsExtremely useful

🐞 Other animalsExtremely useful

Holly is especially valuable due to the evergreen leaf, the dense prickly growth and the red berries in autumn and winter. Female and male plants are needed for berries.

Distribution in the Netherlands