Belongs to: woodland

Holly Ilex aquifolium


Best time to see: all year

Key facts

The familiar evergreen used for Christmas decorations, with spiny dark green leaves and crimson berries

Male and female flowers (pollinated by bees) appear on different trees and only the females carry berries

Seeds are spread by a number of birds and small mammals that eat the berries, which are poisonous to humans


© Tony Gunton