How to Grow and Care for Common holly

Common holly, also known as European holly, Christmas holly, Holly Tree, Holly

Common holly is a robust and resilient plant, making it an easy-care choice for many gardeners. Key care points include ensuring it is planted in well-drained soil, as it does not tolerate waterlogged conditions. Additionally, common holly benefits from partial shade to full sun and requires minimal pruning, mainly to shape the plant or keep its size in check.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

Toxic to Human & Pets

In This Article

Planting and Growing Common holly

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	6-7
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	8-9
Toxicity	Toxic to Human & Pets

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Varieties of Common holly

Common holly 'Handsworth New Silver'

Common holly 'Handsworth New Silver' is cultivated from Common holly in the Aquifoliaceae family. It is named 'Handsworth New Silver' due to the white outer marking on the leaves which give it a silvery appearance. It was also cultivated for its purple shoots. The young shoots provide a bit of color in the garden, so it's a popular choice for gardeners.

Common holly 'Ferox Argentea'

With unique variegated spiked leaves, the common holly 'Ferox Argentea' is a sterile male holly cultivar, properly named the "hedgehog holly". Gardeners keep the plant for hedges and foundations, or as a mixed shrub border; however, this cultivar can become invasive. This cultivar offers winter interest with red berries in the fall and white flowers in the spring which provides gardeners with a visually appealing evergreen shrub.

Common holly 'Watereriana'

Common holly 'Watereriana' has smooth leaves with edges and blotches of yellow. As such, they're more colorful (as well as being softer and thinner) than the plant's parentage, Ilex aquifolium. The evergreen foliage gives year-round color and it makes a good low-maintenance security hedge if need be.

Common holly 'Golden Queen'

Common holly 'Golden Queen' is a variegated cultivar of the Common holy. While the parent plant has solid dark green leaves, this cultivar was bred to have larger and more attractive leaves that are distinguished by their prominent golden-yellow margins. Common holly 'Golden Queen' is a male cultivar.

Common holly 'Ferox'

Common holly 'Ferox' is a Common holly cultivar with deep green leaves, edged cream-white, and covered with spines not only on their edges but also on their upper surface. The name was derived from the Latin word "Ferox" which means warlike and refers to the spiny character of the plant.

Common Pests & Diseases

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The Toxicity of Common holly

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More General Info About Common holly

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Quickly Identify Common holly

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Common holly stands out as an evergreen tree or shrub with a prominent erect and pyramidal shape. With an impressive height range of 30 to 50 feet (9 to 15 meters) and a width of 15 to 25 feet (4.5 to 7.5 meters), it boasts a dense branch structure. Its bark is smooth, transitioning in color from gray to black. The leaves are distinctive—alternate, simple, elliptic—and bear spiny teeth on their edges, alongside a leathery, glossy, dark green appearance. In spring, common holly reveals clusters of small, fragrant, white flowers, leading to the production of small red drupes in late summer to winter if pollination occurs.