Common Holly

Common Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is the classic glossy evergreen of cool-climate gardens: a slow-growing shrub or tree that reaches 4 to 15m tall and 4 to 8m wide in time. Dark, scalloped leaves with sharp points hold all year, and pollinated female plants carry red berries from late autumn into winter. It makes an excellent security hedge, a dense screen or a stand-alone feature.

Why you'll love it

• A barrier nobody pushes through. The pointed, glossy leaves make holly a proper security hedge, tidy to look at and unpleasant to climb.
• Winter berries. Pollinated female plants ripen red berries from late autumn, and the cut stems and berries are the traditional Christmas decoration.
• Evergreen all year. The dark foliage stays glossy through winter, so a holly screen never thins out the way deciduous planting does.
• Slow, steady growth. It does not need constant clipping. A yearly tidy holds a hedge in shape, and a feature tree builds a dense, well-clothed form.

Where it works best

Security hedging. Plant 1m apart in a single row. Holly is slow, so a hedge takes several seasons to close, but once it has, it holds comfortably at 2 to 3m with a yearly trim.

Screening. In a larger garden where you want height, plant 3m apart and let the trees grow naturally into a dark wall well above fence height.

Feature tree. A single specimen needs room for a spread of 4 to 8m. Place it where the winter berries can be seen from a window or a path.

Growing Common Holly in Australia

Position and climate. Filtered sunlight suits it best, though it takes full sun if watered regularly. It is a plant for the cooler, non-humid parts of the country, such as the tablelands, the Adelaide Hills, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT, and it is frost hardy. In humid subtropical and tropical gardens it struggles.

Soil. Free draining soil that is rich in organic matter suits it. Dig compost through the planting hole, then mulch the surface.

Water and feed. Mulch and water on a regular basis until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. After that, give it extra water through drought periods.

Pruning. Prune gently to shape if needed. Clip a hedge after the berries have finished, since clipping removes them, and wear thick gloves. In some cool regions birds spread holly seed into bushland and it is listed as a weed, so check your local council's list before planting near bush.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Common Holly as tube stock: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. Holly is slow, so expect a small plant that builds over several seasons, with berries some years away.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Best hedging plants for Australian gardens
• Plants for cool climates
• How to create a great hedge and keep it sharp
• Evergreen trees

Common questions

Will I get berries?

Only female plants fruit, and they need a male holly within pollinating range. Young plants cannot be sexed, so we cannot promise berries. Planting several together improves the odds, and a male holly in a neighbouring garden can do the job.

Is holly safe for pets?

No. The berries are toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and the leaves are sharp. Keep it away from animals that chew or graze, or choose a different hedge.

Can I grow it in a warm, humid climate?

We do not recommend it. Holly is happiest in cooler regions with drier air, and it sulks in subtropical humidity. Warm coastal gardeners will do better with another glossy evergreen from our hedging range.