Common Holly Tree – Ilex aquifolium | Evergreen Hedging & Garden Shrub | UK Hardy
Common Holly Tree – Ilex aquifolium | Evergreen Hedging & Garden Shrub | UK Hardy
Ilex aquifolium – Common Holly
Create a traditional British hedge with our native Common Holly. This classic evergreen features glossy, dark green prickly leaves and bright red berries in winter, providing year-round screening, security, and wildlife value. As a UK native species, it is perfectly adapted to British conditions and supports local biodiversity.
Key Features
- Classic British Native: The traditional holly used for Christmas wreaths and decorations
- Glossy Dark Green Foliage: Dense, evergreen leaves provide year-round screening
- Festive Red Berries: Bright red berries appear in autumn and persist through winter (on female plants)
- Excellent Security: Prickly leaves create an effective deterrent
- Wildlife Haven: Provides nesting sites and winter food for birds, supports numerous insects
- Versatile: Perfect for hedging, mixed native hedgerows, or specimen planting
- Very Hardy: Tolerates shade, coastal exposure, pollution, and most soil types
Growing Information
Ultimate Height: 10–15m (easily maintained at 1.5–4m for hedging). Ultimate Spread: 4–8m. Planting Density: 3–5 plants per metre for hedging. Growth Rate: Slow to moderate (10–30cm per year). Position: Full sun to full shade. Soil: Well-drained, tolerates most soil types including clay and chalk. Hardiness: Fully hardy (RHS H5).
Planting & Care
Plant from autumn to spring in well-drained soil. Space plants 30–40cm apart (3–5 per metre) for hedging. Water regularly during the first growing season. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring. Trim once a year in late spring or summer to maintain shape. Use secateurs rather than hedge trimmers to avoid cutting through leaves. Holly is dioecious — female plants produce berries when a male pollinator is nearby.
Perfect For
- Traditional native hedging and mixed hedgerows
- Security hedges and boundaries
- Shady areas where other plants struggle
- Wildlife-friendly and biodiversity gardens
- Coastal gardens and exposed sites
- Urban gardens (tolerates pollution)
- Christmas decorations and wreaths
- Low-maintenance landscaping
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Planting Instructions
Plant from autumn to spring in well-drained soil in full sun to full shade. Tolerates most soil types including clay and chalk. Space 30–40cm apart (3–5 per metre) for hedging. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
Water regularly during the first growing season. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring. Trim once a year in late spring or summer to maintain shape and encourage dense growth. Use secateurs rather than hedge trimmers to avoid cutting through leaves. Holly is dioecious — female plants produce berries when a male pollinator is nearby.
Size & Specification
Supplied in a 5L pot at 40–60cm height. Ultimate height 10–15m (easily maintained at 1.5–4m for hedging). Ultimate spread 4–8m. Slow to moderate growth rate (10–30cm per year). Planting density 3–5 plants per metre. Fully hardy (RHS H5). Fully evergreen.
Delivery & Dispatch
Dispatched within 3–5 working days via overnight courier in protective packaging. Plants are carefully packaged to protect roots and foliage during transit. Please ensure someone is available to receive the delivery.
Wildlife & Ecological Notes
One of the most valuable native plants for UK wildlife. Small white flowers in spring attract bees and other pollinators. Bright red berries in autumn and winter are a critical food source for thrushes, blackbirds, redwings, and fieldfares. The dense, spiny evergreen canopy provides excellent year-round shelter and nesting cover for garden birds, and the impenetrable growth offers protection from predators. Supports numerous native insects and invertebrates.