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Pontefract Castle
Medieval herb garden blog 51: Holly
Friday, December 19, 2025Week 51 volunteer update
This blog is a little early, due to Christmas deadlines. However, looking at the state of the soil, I can’t imagine that any gardening will be carried out on Monday. So, it will probably be cups of tea and mince pies in the office while we talk about plans for next year. With that in mind…
Although not technically in the Medieval Herb Garden, it overlooks it. As it’s Christmas, the plant of the week is holly!
Plant of the week: Common holly (Ilex aquifolium)
The name 'Ilex aquifolium' comes from the Latin 'ilex'. This was originally the Latin name for the holm-oak (Quercus ilex), which has spiny leaves like those of the holly. 'Aquifolium' means 'needle-leaf'. It is a combination of acus ('needle') and folium ('leaf').
Its other names are holm, hulm, holme chase, hulver bush or tree, holy tree and Christ's thorn.
Holly is native to Western and Southern Europe, Northwest Africa and Southwest Asia. It is one of our few native, hardwood, evergreen trees. The common holly is dioecious (meaning that there are separate male and female plants).
It prefers to grow in moist, but well-drained soil, in any aspect but north-facing. Holly will use up more of the soil around than most deciduous trees. It is initially a slow grower. It grows more quickly after the first four or five years.
Holly can reach a height of 80 ft / 25 m and a trunk diameter of 3 ft / 1 m. It has a pyramidical crown spread of 25 ft / 7.6 m. Holly can live for up to 500 years. However, it generally doesn’t reach more than 100 years.
Our wonderfully tall holly tree overlooking the Medieval Herb Garden
Common holly leaves are oval, leathery and shiny. They grow up to 4 inches / 10 cm long and 2 inches / 5 cm broad. The leaves are evergreen and last about five years. They are dark green on the upper surface and lighter on the underside.
In the young tree and the lower limbs of older trees, the leaves have three to five sharp spines on each side. These spines point alternately upward and downward. The leaves of the branches in mature trees do not have these spines.
Both male and female trees flower between 4 and 12 years of age. In male plants, the flowers are yellowish and appear in axillary groups (by the base of the leaf). In female plants, flowers are isolated or in groups of three. Their flowers are small and white, or slightly pink. They have four petals and four sepals partially fused at the base.
Fruit is only produced on female holly plants. It is a drupe (stone fruit), about ¼ inch / 6 to 10 mm in diameter. The fruit is a bright red or bright yellow. It matures around October or November. Each fruit contains 3 to 4 seeds. These do not germinate until the following second or third spring.
Berries on our holly plant at Pontefract Castle
In October or November, the berries are very bitter in taste. This is due to their ilicin content. Because of this, they are rarely eaten by rodents, birds and large herbivores until late winter. The winter frosts make them softer and better tasting.
Culinary uses of holly
Traditionally, holly has been used sparingly in cooking. This is due to its naturally bitter and astringent taste.
Small amounts of holly leaves have occasionally been added to traditional recipes. They are sometimes used as a flavouring agent or garnish in herbal broths and infusions.
The berries should never be eaten. They are toxic to humans, especially children.
Holly as a dye plant
Red or purple dye can be made from holly berries. The colour depends on the acidity of the dye bath.
The yellow dye ilixanthin can be made from holly leaves.
Folklore and other facts about holly
Holly is now commonly used in Christmas decorations. The use of evergreens is said to come from the Romans. They sent evergreen boughs and gifts to their friends during the winter festival of Saturnalia.
Early Christians also adopted this custom. Christian mythology states that the holly first sprang up under the footsteps of Jesus. It says that the red berries represented His blood. In old church calendars Christmas Eve was marked 'templa exornantur' (when churches are decked).
The use of holly has also been traced to the Druids. They decorated their huts with evergreens as a winter home for the spirits of the woods.
'Saturnalia' by Antoine-François Callet (1783). Note the artist's interpretation of the Romans using evergreen decorations.
On the west coast of Canada and the United States, and in Hawaii, holly is classed as an invasive species.
Some topical creams and ointments contain holly extract. It can help to soothe irritated skin, reduce redness, and promote the healing of minor wounds and burns. Care must be taken as holly can cause an allergic reaction.
Pliny wrote that “holly, if planted near a house or farm, repelled poison, and defended it from lightning and witchcraft, that the flowers caused water to freeze, and that the wood, if thrown at any animal, even without touching it, had the property of compelling the animal to return and lie down by it”.
The holly flowers are a nectar source for insects such as bees, wasps, flies, and small butterflies. However, it may be susceptible to scale insects and holly leaf miner (Phytomyza ilicis). Young shoots can be attacked by aphids.
Holly can be susceptible to holly leaf blight, phytophthora root rot and honey fungus.
Medieval medicinal uses of holly*
Holly has been used in traditional European medicine for centuries.
The leaves were used to create infusions believed to help reduce fever and combat infections, such as smallpox. They were used to treat digestive issues, act as a mild laxative and antispasmodic and to ease chest congestion and pleurisy.
Holly was also used for conditions like arthritis and joint pain.
The berries were used to purge the body.
*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.
Medieval herb garden blogs
Browse all blogs by our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle. Discover each 'Plant of the Week' as chosen throughout 2025.