English Holly

BUSH INVADER

Ilex aquifolium

family: AQUIFOLIACEAE

Description

  • Large evergreen shrub to small tree from woodlands in Europe, East Asia and North Africa; trees are either male or female, both produce flowers. Hardy, tough and adaptable.
  • Leaves are thick and tough, dark green, glossy, indented and ferociously spiky; on older branches they may be quite smooth.
  • Flowers are small, whitish, inconspicuous, sweetly scented, pollinated by bees. Female trees must grow within bee range (30m or so) of a male tree to be pollinated.
  • Bunches of bright red berries, poisonous to humans but not to birds, are borne on female trees in winter.

Dispersal

Birds spread the seed into sensitive bushland; Holly also spreads by suckering and layering, and can form tall dense thickets.

Impact on Bushland

Dominates the tall shrub layer in moist, nutrient-rich sheltered bushland, creating deep shade in which native species can neither grow nor germinate, changing the environment.

Distribution

Upper Blue Mountains.

Alternative Planting

Native Plants
Heath Banksia (Banksia ericifolia) 4m
Lillypilly (Acmena smithii) 10m
Blueberry Ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus) 8m.

Exotic alternatives
Camellia species (eg, Camellia sasanqua), to 5m.

Control

Treat when growing strongly (not winter). Cut and paint, or scrape small plants. Inject larger specimens. Repeat treatment as often as necessary.
Pull small seedlings from moist soil, making sure not to leave any roots behind.
Do not leave cut material on the ground. Do not compost.

Picture of Hollyu fruit
Holly berriies ripen from green to red in time for Christmas in the northern hemisphere. The holly tree has been regarded as magical, later holy, for thousands of years.

Holly creates deep shade.

Holly creates deep shade.

Holly berries are dispersed by birds.

Holly berries are dispersed by birds.