Holly

When: In all seasons

Scientific name: Ilex aquifolium

Gaelic name: uil-ìoc

Height: can grow up to 15 metres in height

Where: In woodlands, parks and gardens. 

Evergreen and long lived, holly has historically been a symbol of life and fertility across cultures in Europe. It is a native plant to the UK, and provides much valuable habitat and resource to other species living in woodlands. 

The spiky leaves of young holly trees are quite formidable, and can give you a good prickle if poked! But this this unforgiving foliage provides the pefect shelter and defence for many species that share woodland habitat with holly. Small mammals such as hedgehogs and mice can make their nests beneath the dense thicket of leaves, protecting them from larger predators such as birds of prey or bigger mammals like foxes and badgers. Small woodland birds are also able to feast on the luscious red berries that embellish the holly bush; one bird, the mistle thrush, has even been known to defend the berries of a particular bush, warding off other peckish passers by and hogging the fruits for themself! 

There are some animals that are not daunted by the spiky holly leaves, and they are insects such as caterpillars and flies. Caterpillars will happily chomp away on the glossy leaves, gaining nutrients from the plant before pupating into a butterfly or moth. There is a type of fly that is named for it's association with holly - the holly leaf miner. This fly burrows a hole in the holly leaf, laying it's eggs in the hole so that when they are ready to hatch, the young will be surrounded by food. It is possible to spot this process with the naked eye - if you walk past a holly bush and notice a pale, almost warty looking bumpy trail, this is a sign that the tree could have been invaded by the leaf miner!

As well as being of great ecological value, holly has been of great significance to humans culturally throughout the ages. Because holly is in leaf all year, even in the depths of winter when most other leaves have shrivelled and fallen from the trees, people believed this tree to be a symbol of strength and life. It was also thought to have magical properties and to bring good luck, so people used to decorate their houses with sprigs to ward off evil spirits and witches. Originally associated with the pagan festival of Yuletide, Christians picked up the use of holly as a symbol of Christmas, and we still use it to this day to decorate wreaths and Christmas puddings during the festive season!

You can discover more about the uses and ecology of holly trees at: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/native-trees/holly/