Family: Aquifoliaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 125 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Ilex
Vegetable: False
Observations: Europe, NW. Africa
Description
English holly, scientifically named Ilex aquifolium, is a distinguished member of the family Aquifoliaceae. Originally described by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work Species Plantarum published in 1753, English holly holds a notable position in both botanical history and horticulture.
Native to the regions of Europe and northwestern Africa, English holly thrives in varied climates, showcasing its adaptability and resilience. The plant is widely recognized for its glossy, dark green leaves, which are often edged with sharp spines and contrast beautifully with its vibrant red berries. These striking features make English holly a popular choice for ornamental gardens and festive decorations, prominently during the Christmas season.
Despite its aesthetic appeal, English holly serves more than just a decorative purpose. It provides an essential habitat and food source for various birds and small mammals, contributing to the biodiversity of the areas it inhabits. The bright berries, although toxic to humans in large quantities, are consumed by birds who aid in the dispersion of the plant’s seeds, ensuring the propagation of this evergreen shrub.
English holly has also been cultivated extensively beyond its native range, both for its ornamental value and its suitability as a hedge plant. Its ability to withstand pruning and its dense growth habit make it an excellent choice for forming hedges and natural barriers.
In traditional folk medicine, various parts of the holly plant were used for their purported medicinal properties, although modern science offers limited support for these uses. Nevertheless, the cultural and symbolic significance of English holly remains strong, firmly rooting it as a plant of interest and importance both historically and contemporarily.
Thus, English holly, Ilex aquifolium, with its rich history, ecological contributions, and enduring popularity, continues to enchant and serve gardeners, wildlife enthusiasts, and holiday revelers alike.
Common Names
Dan: almindelig kristorn, kristtorn
Eng: english holly, holly
Deu: europäische stechpalme, gewöhnliche stechpalme, hülse, stechpalme
Por: azevinho
Nor: beenwedd, mar-torn
Fra: houx, houx commun
Nld: hulst
Swe: järnek, kristtorn
Nob: kristtorn
Nno: kristtorn
Hun: közönséges magyal
Cym: celyn, celyn cyffredin, celynnen
Gla: cuileann, cuilinn
En: English holly, Holly, Common holly, European holly, Holly Tree, Holly-green, Holm
Ar: بهشية مائية الأوراق
Hy: Սղոցի սովորական
Az: Şişyarpaq şümşə
Eu: Gorosti
Be: Падуб востралісны
Br: Kelenn
Ca: Grevol, Grèvol, Agrifoli, Arbre de visc, Coscoll grec, Greu
Zh: 欧洲冬青, 歐洲冬青
Co: Caracutu
Hr: Božika
Cs: Cesmína ostrolistá
Da: Almindelig Kristtorn, Kristtorn, Almindelig kristorn
Nl: Hulst, Gewone Hulst, Groene Hulst, Scherpe Hulst
Eo: Ordinara ilekso
Et: Teravalehine iileks
Fi: Orjanlaakeri
Fr: Houx commun, Houx
Gl: Acivro
De: Hülse, Gewöhnliche Stechpalme, Gewöhnlicher Stechpalme, Stechpalme, Europäische Stechpalme, Gemeine Stechpalme, Hülsdorn, Hülsstrauch, Waldhülse
Hu: Közönséges magyal
Is: Jólaviður, Kristþyrnir
It: Agrifoglio, Alboro spinoso
Li: Huls (plant)
Lt: Dygialapis bugienis
Mk: Божиковина
No: Kristtorn, Beenwedd, Mar-torn
Nb: Kristtorn
Nn: Kristtorn
Oc: Agreu, Agrifol, Grifol, Grefol
Fa: خاس کریسمس
Pl: Ostrokrzew kolczasty
Pt: Azevinho
Pt-br: Azevim, Azevinho
Qu: Asiwu
Ru: Падуб остролистный
Sc: Olostriche
Gd: Cuileann, Cuilinn
Sk: Cezmína ostrolistá
Es: Acebo, Navadna bodika
Sv: Järnek, Kristtorn
Zh-tw: 歐洲冬青
Zh-hant: 歐洲冬青
Uk: Падуб гостролистовий
Cy: Celyn, Celyn Cyffredin, Celynnen
Synonyms
- Ilex aquifolium var. handsworthensis (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-purpurea (T.Moore)
- Ilex balearica var. cordata (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. angustifolia (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. hybrida (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. longifolia-maculata (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. barcinonae (Pau)
- Ilex aquifolium var. heterophyllum (Rchb.)
- Ilex aquifolium f. arbutifolia ((T.Moore) Loes.)
- Aquifolium lanceolatum (Raf.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. albopicta (Loudon)
- Ilex balearica (Desf.)
- Ilex camelliifolia ((K.Koch) A.Henry)
- Ilex aquifolium var. beetii (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. lineata (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. ferox-argentea (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. ciliata-major (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. trapeziformis (T.Moore)
- Aquifolium vulgare (St.-Lag.)
- Ilex echinata (Mill.)
- Ilex sempervirens (Salisb.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. monstrosa (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-latifolia (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. maderensis (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. recurva (Aiton)
- Ilex aquifolium var. doningtonensis (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-longifolia (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. dipirena (Laurentius)
- Ilex aquifolium var. carnola (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium f. frivaldskyana (Loes.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-pectinata-minor (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. alcicornis (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. fructu-aurantiaco (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. ovata (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-stricta (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium f. ferox ((Aiton) C.K.Schneid.)
- Aquifolium heterophyllum (Raf.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. pendula-aurea-picta (C.Pynaert)
- Ilex aquifolium var. tortuosa (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. bicolor (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. senescens (Gaudin)
- Ilex aquifolium var. balearica (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. senencens (Gaudin)
- Ilex aquifolium var. algarviensis (Chodat)
- Ilex aquifolium var. ferox-aurea (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. laucifolia (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. crispa (Loudon)
- Aquifolium undulatum (Raf.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-erecta (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. ciliata (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-varians (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium f. argentea-marginata ((T.Moore) Schelle)
- Ilex aquifolium var. nigrescens (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. latispina (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. elegans (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-marginata-major (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. crassifolia (Aiton)
- Ilex aquifolium var. microphylla (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. serratifolia-albomarginata (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. canadensis (Göpp.)
- Ilex ciliata (A.Vilm.)
- Ilex heterophylla (G.Don)
- Ilex aquifolium var. foxii (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium f. bacciflavum ((Weston) Rehder)
- Ilex aquifolium var. pendula-aurea-marginata (C.Pynaert)
- Ilex aquifolium var. albolineata (T.Moore)
- Aquifolium ferox (Mill. ex Rafin.)
- Ilex aquifolium f. heterophylla ((Aiton))
- Ilex aquifolium var. aureopicta (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. rigida (T.Moore)
- Ilex ferox (Aiton ex Steud.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. smithiana (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-pectinata-major (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. scotica (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. hendersonii (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-medio-picta (T.Moore)
- Ilex citriocarpa (Murr)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-elegantissima (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. ciliata-minor (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. atrovirens (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. integrifolia (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. albomarginata (Loudon)
- Aquifolium spinosum (Lam.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. whittingtonensis (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium f. albopicta ((Loudon) Geerinck)
- Ilex aquifolium var. laurifolia (Lej.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. nigra (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-marginata (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. latifolia (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. calamistrata (Göpp.)
- Ilex fischeri (Carrière)
- Ilex aquifolium var. heterophylla (Aiton)
- Ilex aquifolium var. marginata (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. compacta (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. perryana-major (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. ingramii (T.Moore)
- Ilex myrtifolia var. aureomaculata (Van Geert)
- Ilex aquifolium var. serratifolia (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. nigricans (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. bacciflavum (Weston)
- Ilex aquifolium var. fisheri (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. pendula-alba-marginata (C.Pynaert)
- Ilex aquifolium f. pyramidalis (Schelle)
- Ilex aquifolium var. fructu-albo (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. grandifolia (T.Moore)
- Aquifolium croceum (Raf.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. obscura (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. arbutifolia (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. rotundifolia (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. hastata (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. wiseana (T.Moore)
- Ilex perado var. iberica (Loes.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. laetevirens (Sennen)
- Aquifolium planifolium (Raf.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. variegata (Loudon)
- Ilex perado subsp. iberica ((Loes.) S.Andrews)
- Ilex aquifolium var. belgica (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. aureomarginata (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. virens (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. magnifica (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. myrtifolia (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. nobilis (Laurentius)
- Ilex aquifolium var. polymorpha (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. pendula (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-pendula (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. ferox (Aiton)
- Ilex aquifolium var. furcata (Laurentius)
- Ilex aquifolium var. revoluta (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-regina (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-lucida (T.Moore)
- Ilex aquifolium var. vulgaris (Aiton)
- Ilex nigricans ((Göpp.) A.Henry)
- Ilex aquifolium pendula-variegata (Van Geert)
- Ilex aquifolium f. aureopicta ((Loudon) Geerinck)
- Ilex chrysocarpa (Wender.)
- Ilex vulgaris (Gray)
- Ilex aquifolium var. thunbergiana (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. elliptica (T.Moore)
- Aquifolium ilex (Scop.)
- Ilex aquifolium f. pendula ((Loudon) Schelle)
- Ilex aquifolium var. fructu-nigro (Loudon)
- Ilex aquifolium var. platyphylla (Göpp.)
- Ilex aquifolium var. fructu-luteo (Loudon)
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Austria (native)
- Baleares (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Corse (native)
- Denmark (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Italy (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- New South Wales (native)
- Norway (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Spain (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- South Australia (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Turkey (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Fruit
Taken May 20, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 29, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 29, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 24, 2022 by Rvt 063 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 17, 2022 by Rvt 063 (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 22, 2020 by Moisés García (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 13, 2022 by Caw Vus (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 20, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Dec 20, 2021 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 20, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 29, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 2, 2021 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 2, 2021 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 13, 2022 by cscoq (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 29, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 2, 2021 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 2, 2021 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Feb 4, 2021 by pietro (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2018 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 20, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 3, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 3, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Dec 3, 2013 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 13, 2022 by Uta Groger (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 13, 2022 by cscoq (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 20, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 3, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5414222)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:83051-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Ilex aquifolium L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Shrub, Tree
Growth
Ph maximum: 5.0
Ph minimum: 4.5
Light: 5
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Soil nutriments: 4