Buy English holly Ilex aquifolium: Delivery by Waitrose Garden

Ilex aquifolium

English holly

English holly

Position: full sun or partial shade
Soil: moist, well-drained, moderately fertile, humus-rich soil
Rate of growth: slow
Flowering period: May to June
Hardiness: fully hardy

English holly has spiny, glossy, dark green leaves and bright red berries often lasting from early autumn into winter. A superb choice for a dense, habitat-rich hedge, that can provide cover for nesting birds during the spring and summer months. During the winter, once established, this bejeweled, evergreen screen offers excellent privacy, a windbreak, and a popular food source for birds.

To find out more about how to plant a hedge, click here
Garden care: Trim hedges at the end of the bird nesting season in late summer. If nests are present, wait until the fledglings have flown before trimming. If holly is being grown as a formal hedge, we advise using a hedge clipping guide - string tied between two posts works well. Wear suitable protective clothing when clipping holly (such as strong gloves and eye guards). After trimming, apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base of the plants.

Unfortunately we cannot guarantee the sex of these seed grown plants.