Holly for the holidays

“The Holly and the Ivy” is a traditional British folk Christmas carol. Churches used both holly and ivy for Christmas decorations. It’s interesting, though, that most of the song is about holly, not ivy. “Of all trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.”

English holly (Ilex aquifolium) grows to 40 feet in height and 25 feet wide. The song’s verses also extol its white blossoms, red berries, prickles and bitter bark.

If you’re interested in growing holly, there are many species and cultivars to choose from, like Chinese holly, Japanese holly, Burford holly, American holly and winterberry. Most holly plants are either male or female. If you’re growing the holly for its berries, you must have separate male and female plants, or you must choose a self-fruitful cultivar. Soon, you can decorate your home with beautiful holly from the tree that “bears the crown.”

— katie martin, UC Marin Master Gardeners