Common Holly Tree – Ilex aquifolium | Evergreen Hedging & Garden Shrub | UK Hardy

Common Holly - Ilex Aquifolium

Create a traditional British hedge with our native Common Holly. This classic evergreen is the iconic holly used for Christmas wreaths and decorations. Featuring glossy, dark green prickly leaves and bright red berries in winter, Common Holly provides year-round screening, security, and wildlife value. As a UK native species, it's 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 for intruders
• 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 (H5)

Planting & Care

Plant from autumn to spring in well-drained soil. Holly is remarkably adaptable and thrives in sun or shade, making it perfect for difficult areas. Space plants 30-40cm apart (3-5 per metre) for hedging. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. 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 (separate male and female plants) - 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

Why Choose Common Holly?

Common Holly is one of the most versatile and valuable native plants for UK gardens. Its evergreen foliage provides year-round screening, the prickly leaves offer security, and the winter berries support wildlife when food is scarce. As a native species, it's perfectly adapted to British conditions and supports local biodiversity. This is a long-lived, low-maintenance plant that has been a cornerstone of British gardens and hedgerows for centuries.

Available at Stoneybrook Nursery, Lancashire - Quality native plants for UK gardens.