Ilex aquifolium
English holly · also Common holly, European holly, Holly
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Ilex aquifolium, commonly known as English holly, is an evergreen tree or shrub native to Europe, Northwest Africa, and Southwest Asia. It features glossy, spiny leaves and bright red berries, making it a popular ornamental plant. It is slow-growing, tolerant of smog, and provides winter food for birds, though its leaves are flammable.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 14,4701.3%—2.6 in
- 1,5850.56%50 yr5.9 in
- 4630.20%—6.9 in
- 3150.17%—12 in
- 1750.50%—13 in
- 930.01%——
- 720.46%—5.9 in
- 640.03%—3.1 in
- 590.04%—5.0 in
- 270.01%35 yr7.5 in
- 190.04%50 yr—
- 100.01%23 yr12 in
- 60.00%—3.1 in
- 40.00%—6.1 in
- 40.00%—2.0 in
- 40.00%—1.9 in
Traits
- Form
- Conifer
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 40 ft
- Canopy spread
- 25 ft
- Lifespan
- 300 years
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Sun
- Full shade, Part shade
- Soil
- Well-drained, Loamy
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Pollution tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- High
- Fire risk
- High
- Blooms
- May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 2.6 in, mean 3.7 in, 90th percentile 6.4 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- Balkan mixed forests
- English Lowlands beech forests
- European Atlantic mixed forests
Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands & Scrub
- Northeast Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests
Other Ilex in the catalogue
17 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
