Is there a more perfect plant for Christmas time than a holly shrub (genus Ilex)? Well, maybe poinsettia, for some folks…my vote is still with the holly. According to Wikipedia, Ilex is “a genus of about 480 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide.”
Some interesting facts about holly taken from this really good article from The Spruce:
- Almost all holly species are dioecious, meaning that you will need to plant both males and females if you desire fruit.
- At first, holly was a part of pagan celebrations in the winter. The Romans used it for Saturnalia. Over time it began to be associated with the Christmas season.
- In 1939, American holly was named as the state tree of Delaware.
This is a very large holly shrub at our place. It’s kind of hard to make out with all the surrounding greenery. I’m not sure which species it is. It isn’t the most shapely thing in the world but the beautiful leaves and berries make up for that. It looks extra nice with the snow we got last night!
This year I am planning to cut some sprigs off to add to an artificial garland on our fireplace.
While I enjoy this plant for purely decorative purposes, many birds, including cardinals and blue jays feed on the berries and use the shrubs as shelter. (Please note that the berries and leaves are known to be at least somewhat toxic to humans, dogs, and cats if ingested.)
What is your favorite “Christmas-y” plant?
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