Holly (Ilex )

Ilex aquifolium (Common or English Holly)

Holly is well-known as a spiny evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves and beautiful, bright red berries in winter. It is one of the few native evergreens and can be grown successfully as a hedge by trimming to shape in early spring. As well as being an attractive year-round screen, Holly also have the advantage of creating an inpenetrable barrier due to it's prickly foliage. It will grow in most soils, except very wet, and will tolerate shady sites. If left to grow into a large shrub or tree, English Holly will reach heights of over 30ft, in a pyramidal shape, but it is slow growing.

Ilex aquifolium 'Alaska'

This female cultivar has the classic spiny green leaves and red berries of common holly but has the benefit of being self-pollinating so doesn't require a male to produce berries.