Holly (Ilex aquifolium) has established itself as a staple in holiday décor for several reasons. This evergreen tree is easy to incorporate into any aspect of your décor.
It has a rich history of cultural importance even before the Christmas holidays. In addition, this tree’s evergreen nature has earned it a reputation throughout history for being evergreen, if not magical.
Holly, European holly, English holly, common holly, or sometimes Christmas holly, is a species in the Aquifoliaceae family native to southern and western Europe, southwestern Asia, and northwestern Africa.
Holly shrubs and trees belong to the genus Ilex. There are around 480 evergreen and deciduous species[1] in this genus.
Holly is a shrubby tree growing 10 to 15 feet tall. Its leaves are leathery and thick, with spiny tips and serrated edges.
Holly is dioecious, meaning female and male flowers are found on different trees. The flowers are white with 4 petals. Depending on the climate, they bloom between early spring and early summer.
The traditions surrounding holly stem from an ancient reverence of this tree and still exist today. So when you decorate with holly plants for Christmas, you uphold centuries-old traditions.
