English Holly 15/30cm (P9)

The English Holly – Ilex aquifolium is a proper British classic, and these young plants at 15-30cm tall are just the ticket for starting your own holly hedge or adding some evergreen structure to your garden. At this size, they’re perfect for settling into their new home and establishing themselves. English Holly is famous for its spiky, glossy dark green leaves that we all associate with Christmas decorations. As these little ones grow, they’ll develop that dense, bushy habit that makes holly brilliant for privacy and security.

While they’re just tiddlers now, these hollies can eventually grow into substantial shrubs or small trees, potentially reaching 15 metres if you let them go wild – but don’t worry, they’re easy enough to keep in check with a bit of pruning. Come late spring, you’ll spot small white flowers which, if you’ve got both male and female plants, will turn into those iconic bright red berries in autumn. These berries are a proper feast for birds in winter when food’s a bit thin on the ground.

Holly’s a tough old boot, putting up with most soil types and conditions. Being native, it’s right at home in our climate and does a grand job supporting local wildlife. Birds love nesting in its thick foliage, and it’s a food plant for the holly blue butterfly.

Plant your holly in sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. It’s not fussy about soil type but prefers it a bit on the acidic side. Water regularly until it’s settled in, especially during dry spells. A yearly feed with a general-purpose fertiliser in spring will keep it ticking over nicely. Prune in winter or early spring to keep it in shape. Remember, only female plants produce berries, and they need a male nearby for pollination.

Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres

Time to ultimate height
20–50 years

Ultimate spread
4–8 metres

1x 15/30cm Holly plant supplied in a 9cm pot.

 🇬🇧 UK grown by ourselves at our nursery in Euxton, Lancashire.