Bush - Holly
A holly is a big bush, and it's tempting to call it a tree. It could be pruned as such, but normally it looks like a bush.
Unlike most plants, there are male and female holly plants. The berries only appear on female plants, and there is no way to tell which is which when they are small.
Holly needs pruning or it gets big (sideways!) Holly leaves stay prickly even when they are dead, which means that you get pricked by old prunings if they are left around.
This tree belongs to our neighbours, although we help ourselves to a small branch to decorate our Christmas pudding. Holly is associated with Christmas, as it stays green throughout the winter, and red berries appear at Christmas (if you're lucky). The holly appears in the carol "The Holly and the Ivy" - "Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown."
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© Jo Edkins 2021 - Return to Garden index