Description

The Holly tree is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers occur on different trees. Flowers are white with four petals. They bloom any time between early spring and the very beginning of summer, depending on the climate.

Mature trees can grow up to 15m and live for 300 years.

Wood

Holly wood is the whitest of all woods, and is heavy, hard and fine-grained. It can be stained and polished and is used to make furniture or in engraving work. It is commonly used to make walking sticks. In the Harry Potter novels, holly is used as the wood in Harry’s wand.

Holly wood also makes good firewood and burns with a strong heat.

Health

Holly berries can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. They are especially dangerous in cases involving accidental consumption by children attracted to the bright red berries. Ingestion of over 20 berries may be fatal to children.

Wildlife

Holly provides dense cover and good nesting opportunities for birds, while its deep, dry leaf litter may be used by hedgehogs and small mammals for hibernation.

In winter thrushes such as Blackbirds, Redwing and Fieldfare gorge themselves on holly berries and spread the seed. Many birds will nest in holly as its spiky leaves protect them from predators, or roost in it in winter.

The flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the holly blue butterfly, along with those of various moths.

Myths and Legends

Holly has long been a powerful symbol of protection, life, and renewal influencing everything from pagan rituals to Christian traditions. Banches have long been used to decorate homes in winter. The tree was seen as a fertility symbol and a charm against witches, goblins and the devil. It was thought to be unlucky to cut down a holly tree.

Traditionally, the Holly tree is highly sacred in Celtic mythology and symbolises peace and goodwill.  In heraldry, holly is used to symbolise truth.