Ilex aquifolium - Holly

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Online ordering & payment options

Online ordering & payment options

If you do not qualify for trade rates, immediate payment by credit or debit card via Sage Pay is required, or you may request contact from the office to make payment over the phone.

For customers who have been accepted for trade rates, we offer several ordering and payment options, including:

  • Immediate payment by credit or debit card via Sage Pay, our payment service provider.
  • Order on account (available to credit account customers only).
  • Request contact from the office & make payment over the phone.
  • Place order to reserve stock & request a call back to discuss timings, with payment only required upon despatch.
£ each • exc. VAT inc. VAT
10% OFF
10% off this species · Discount applied in basket
Plus special 'buy all' prices available · Click here for details
SKU qty price price_excl_tax Save
20-40cm-P9 Container-Unspecified-NL 25 £4.06 £3.38 46%
20-40cm-P9 Container-Unspecified-NL 100 £3.52 £2.93 53%
20-40cm-P9 Container-Unspecified-NL 500 £3.30 £2.75 56%
20-40cm-P9 Container-Unspecified-NL 1000 £2.93 £2.44 61%
40-60cm-P9 Container-UK405-UK 25 £4.43 £3.69 46%
40-60cm-P9 Container-UK405-UK 100 £3.84 £3.20 53%
40-60cm-P9 Container-UK405-UK 500 £3.60 £3.00 56%
40-60cm-P9 Container-UK405-UK 1000 £3.20 £2.67 61%
Show Greater Quantities +
Height
Form
Provenance
Grown
1+
25+
100+
500+
1000+
Qty
20-40cm
P9 Container
Unspecified
NL
7.55 6.29
4.06 3.38
3.52 2.93
3.30 2.75
2.93 2.44
40-60cm
P9 Container
UK405
UK
8.23 6.86
4.43 3.69
3.84 3.20
3.60 3.00
3.20 2.67
Sold out
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We're Despatching Plants

The planting season is in full swing and extends to the end of April. Order your plants now.

Availability

Container grown from November to the end of April.

Plant Healthy Certified

We are Plant Healthy certified, meaning you can buy with confidence, safe in the knowledge that we are doing everything in our power to protect the environment from pests and diseases. Learn more about Plant Healthy.

Plant Healthy Certified

Minimum Order Value

Please note that there is a minimum order value of £50.00 + VAT, excluding delivery.

Delivery

Delivery to UK mainland is included for stock orders over £1500.00 + VAT (subject to postcode zones & surcharges). For full details on delivery please view our delivery page.

We recommend

We recommend that you plant with Rootgrow™ to boost growth and increase survival rates.

Boost growth with Rootgrow

Holly is perhaps our most beautiful native broadleaved evergreen tree. A mature tree in woodland is a fine sight, particularly in winter, when its stately smooth grey trunk and gleaming leaves stand out well against the leafless branches of other trees. It is equally good as a garden ornamental or an evergreen hedge. It has good conservation value, and both the leaves and the scarlet berries are a potent symbol of Christmas.

Site and soil

Holly will do well in any well-drained soil. It copes well with both shade, exposed sites and pollution.

Height and spread

Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;

After 10 years: 4m x 2m
After 20 years: 6m x 3m

Leaf and bark

The leaves are elliptic, glossy, leathery dark green, and with wavy, spiny margins. Older leaves at the top of the tree sometimes become smoother and without spines. They are evergreen, although a proportion of leaves are shed in summer. The bark is very smooth and grey.

Flower, seed and fruit

The small white cup-shaped flowers are borne in clusters in the leaf axils in May. The flowers are dioecious, that is male and female flowers are found on separate plants. Only female hollies bear berries, and then only if there is a male holly nearby to pollinate it. The flowers are followed by the berries, which ripen to red by November. When bought in quantity there is a good chance both sexes will be represented.

Uses

Holly makes a good specimen tree in woodlands and gardens. It is also an excellent formal evergreen hedge, which because it is very dense and spiny, is both intruder and stock-proof.

Its tough leaves are wind-proof, and it can also be left unclipped to form an informal wind-break. It makes very good topiary shapes of all kinds.

The wood is very hard and dense and is used for making mathematical instruments, printing blocks, walking sticks and inlays on furniture. It is much prized by wood-turners, and in the past was used to make Tunbridge Ware. Birdlime was once made from the fermented bark and spread on branches to catch birds as they came into roost.

The berries are strongly purgative, and it was once used medicinally. It resists Honey Fungus well, and is often recommended as a replacement for plants which have been killed by the disease.

Rabbits love the young wood and bark, so plants must be protected from them for the first few years after planting. Holly is said to protect against both witchcraft and lightning, and was traditionally planted near houses for this reason.

Wildlife

Insects pollinate the flowers, and a number of butterflies, including the Holly Blue lay their eggs on the leaves. Because it is dense and evergreen, holly provides good shelter and nesting sites for birds. Many species of birds eat the berries. The wood is very strong, and the tree is seldom damaged by heavy snowfall in severe winters.

The main reasons for buying protection is to protect the plants against:

  • Pests
  • Spraying
  • Strimming

Pests

When it comes to deciding what protection to choose the golden rule is to choose the product dependent on which pest you are protecting against. The below will help you in deciding what height of protection you will need.

Vole Rabbit Hare Roe Deer/Muntjac Fallow Deer
Vole, Mice
20cm
Rabbit
60cm
Hare
75cm
Roe Deer, Muntjac
1.20m
Fallow Deer
1.50m
Pest & Minimum Protection Height Protection Type
Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.
Support Required
Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Vole
Vole, Mice
20cm
Vole Guard*
20cm
*Not recommended for this species
None required
Pest & Minimum Protection Height Protection Type
Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.
Support Required
Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Rabbit
Rabbit
60cm
Spiral Guard*
60cm x 38mm, 60cm x 50mm
*Not recommended for this species
Bamboo Cane
90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
Tubex Easywrap*
60cm x 50-65mm
*Not recommended for this species
Bamboo Cane
90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
Mesh Guard with Spray Shield
60cm x 130mm
2 x Bamboo Canes
90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
Tubex Fruitwrap*
60cm x 65-80mm
*Not recommended for this species
Bamboo Cane
90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
Tubex Ecostart*
60cm x 57-73cm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Tubex Tree Shelter
60cm x 73-105mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube
60cm x 80-110mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube
60cm x 80-110mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Tubex Shrub Shelter
60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 144-200mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Tubex Shrub Shelterguard Mesh Tube
60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube for Shrubs
60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height Protection Type
Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.
Support Required
Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Hare
Hare
75cm
Tubex Easywrap*
75cm x 50-65mm
*Not recommended for this species
Bamboo Cane
90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
Spiral Guard*
75cm x 50mm
*Not recommended for this species
Bamboo Cane
90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
Tubex Fruitwrap*
75cm x 65-80mm
*Not recommended for this species
Bamboo Cane
90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
Tubex Ecostart*
75cm x 57-73mm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
Tubex Tree Shelter
75cm x 73-105mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
Tubex Combitube
75cm x 73-105mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube
90cm x 80-110mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube
75cm x 80-110mm, 90cm x 80-110mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
Tubex Shrub Shelter
75cm x 130-160mm, 75cm x 144-200mm
Square Sawn Tree Stake
90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height Protection Type
Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.
Support Required
Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Roe Deer/Muntjac
Roe Deer/Muntjac
1.20m
Tubex Tree Shelter*
1.20m x 73-105mm, 1.20m x 80-120mm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
Tubex Combitube*
1.20m x 73-105mm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube*
1.20m x 80-110mm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube*
1.20m x 80-110mm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard*
1.20m x 300mm
*Not recommended for this species
Machine Rounded Tree Stake
1.20m x 50mm, 1.50m x 50mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height Protection Type
Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.
Support Required
Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Fallow DeerFallow Deer
1.50m
Tubex Tree Shelter*
1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
Tubex Combitube*
1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube*
1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube*
1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm
*Not recommended for this species
Square Sawn Tree Stake
1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard*
1.80m x 300mm, 1.80m x 600mm
*Not recommended for this species
Machine Rounded Tree Stake
1.80m x 60mm

Spraying

Tubex tree shelters offer the benefit of not only protecting against animal damage, they also ensure that herbicides do not come into contact with the plants during spraying.

The main reason for spraying is weed control, however, there are other options available to suppress weeds, such as weed control matting.

Strimming

Young plants should be protected from damage caused when strimming. To protect plants solely for strimming, our strimmer guards are the ideal product.

Planting

For a formal hedge we recommend planting in a straight line, 5 per metre.

Aftercare

Holly hedges and topiary should be trimmed in spring.

Also available