Holly
Ilex aquifolium
Also called English holly and Christmas holly
Garden plant · ShrubsNo berries without a male plant somewhere near — and 'Golden King' is female while 'Golden Queen' is male, which catches everyone.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 8 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Sun to part shade
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 5 m tall · 3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- Western and southern Europe
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. The leaves and berries are only mildly toxic.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
HandlingTake care handling it
The leaf spines do more damage on the way down than the toxin does.
Checked against ASPCA on 2026-08-03.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.