Ilex aquifolium Holly (Aquifoliaceae) Evergreen shrub

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Ilex aquifolium
Holly
Evergreen shrub
(1 Page of 5)

The Ilex aquifolium plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Aquifoliaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Holly. Some home gardeners know the variety as I. balearica.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Ilex aquifolium
Common Name:  Holly
Family:  Aquifoliaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  The plant is poisonous[10], but only in very large doses[65, 76].

Mature Height:  9   Mature Width:  5

Habitat:  Found in most well-drained soils in scrub, hedges and woodland where it is often the dominant under-storey shrub[7].

General Uses: An excellent hedge plant, tolerating hard clipping and maritime exposure and forming a dense stockproof shelter[4, 11, 29, 75, 186]. Plants are fairly slow growing however[11]. The cultivar 'Pendula' makes a very good carpeting ground cover plant when grown as a cutting on its own roots[208]. It can be planted up to 1.2 metres apart each way, but is fairly slow to cover the ground[208]. Wood - strong, hard and dense, it polishes well, though it must be well dried and seasoned or else it warps badly. It is beautifully white, except at the centre of very old trees, and is highly regarded by cabinet makers though it must be well seasoned[4, 7, 46, 61]. The heartwood of mature trees is used for printing blocks, engravings, turnery etc[11, 115]. The wood makes a good fuel, burning well even when green[6].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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