As Frost Silvers The Lawn, Holly Still Stands Green And Glossy, Holding Its Berries Like Little Lanterns For The Birds.

Year-Round Glossy Evergreen Structure

Holly is one of those plants that quietly holds a garden together through all four seasons. While other shrubs lose their leaves, its glossy foliage remains, catching light on dull days and providing a dark, rich backdrop to whatever else is happening. In summer it blends into the scene, in autumn it supports fading flowers and fiery leaves, and in winter it steps forward as a main character. Whether you use it as a hedge, a single specimen or part of a mixed border, that steady, evergreen structure is a real comfort.

  • Year-Round Glossy Evergreen Structure
  • Winter Berries That Light Up The Cold Months
  • Tough, Long-Lived And Adaptable

Ilex at a Glance:

Common name: Holly

Latin name: Ilex

Size in UK gardens: Many garden hollies reach 3–6m tall and 2–4m wide over time, but dwarf and slow‑growing forms often stay around 1–2m and can be kept smaller with pruning.

Best position: Sun or partial shade, with at least some direct sun for the best berry display and dense growth.

Soil: Most reasonably fertile, moist but well‑drained garden soils; tolerates clay and lighter ground as long as it doesn’t sit waterlogged for long periods.

Main interest: Glossy evergreen foliage all year, tiny spring flowers, and bright berries in autumn and winter on female plants.

Fragrance: Small spring flowers can be lightly scented close up, but holly is grown mainly for its foliage, shape and berries.

Hardiness: Fully hardy across the UK, including exposed and inland areas such as Cambridgeshire and much of East Anglia.

Care level: Low to moderate; long‑lived and tough once established, needing only sensible watering while young and occasional pruning to manage size.
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Ilex Care at a Glance:

Planting time: As container‑grown plants, hollies can be planted in most months when the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged, with spring and autumn usually the easiest times for both roots and gardener.

Watering: Water regularly through the first couple of years, especially in dry spells, so roots can spread deeply. Once established in the ground, holly is quite drought‑tolerant and usually only needs extra water in prolonged dry periods or on very light soils.

Feeding: In ordinary garden soil a yearly mulch of compost or well‑rotted manure in spring is usually enough. On very poor soils, a light sprinkling of balanced fertiliser in spring can help maintain steady growth and good foliage colour.

Pruning: Holly responds well to pruning and clipping. Hedges are usually trimmed once or twice a year; specimen plants can be lightly shaped in late winter or mid‑summer, removing unwanted shoots and keeping the outline tidy.

Winter: Fully hardy and evergreen, holly usually needs no special winter protection in the ground. Young plants benefit from a mulch around the base, and container specimens appreciate a sheltered position in very hard winters.

Varieties We Usually Stock

Availability is always changing, so please check with us if you have a particular variety in mind.

Acer campestre

Acer campestre 'Elsrijk'

Acer campestre 'Queen Elizabeth'

Acer campestre 'Carnival'

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, holly can work very well in small and front gardens if you choose the right form and keep on top of pruning. While the wild species can become a sizeable tree, many garden cultivars are naturally compact or slow‑growing, and can be maintained at around 1–2m with occasional clipping. In a front garden, a single holly makes an excellent focal point near the door or boundary, giving year‑round greenery and winter interest. For tiny plots, look for dwarf or narrow varieties and consider container growing or simple topiary shapes to keep things in scale.

In typical UK conditions, many garden hollies will eventually reach 3–6m tall and 2–4m wide if left unpruned, though this can take many years. Growth tends to be steady rather than rapid: young plants often put on 15–30cm of new growth a year once established, sometimes more on stronger soils, less on poor ground. Dwarf and slow‑growing cultivars stay smaller by nature. Because holly responds well to pruning, you can manage height and spread quite easily with regular light trimming, especially when used as hedging or clipped standards.

Most hollies are either male or female, and only the females produce berries – but they generally need a male nearby as a pollen source. Bees and other insects carry pollen from the male to the female flowers in spring, and if pollination is successful, berries develop in autumn. In an average neighbourhood there is often enough holly around that a single female in your garden will fruit, but if you’re planting from scratch and berries are important to you, it’s wise to include at least one male and one female, or choose a self‑fertile variety that can set berries on its own.

You can certainly grow holly in a pot, especially compact or slow‑growing cultivars. Use a large container with drainage holes and a peat‑free, loam‑based compost, and place it in sun or light shade. Water regularly in dry spells and feed modestly in spring. Pruning for potted hollies is much the same as for those in the ground: trim lightly once or twice a year to keep the shape you want, whether that’s a simple ball, cone or standard “lollipop”. Remove any dead or awkward shoots, and work with the plant’s natural habit rather than trying to force very sharp, fussy shapes unless you’re happy to clip more often.