Ilex aquifolium (English or common holly)

This is what most people think of as ‘real’ holly, with dark green, shiny, spiky leaves and red berries. But it has berries only if male and female plants are grown together; single female plants cannot bear berries, as pollen from a male plant is necessary to facilitate fruit setting. Will tolerate semi-shade. Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Marginata’ (silver-margined holly), which grows to 8m tall, is slow growing, with dark green, spiny leaves edged with creamy-white and white flowers that are followed by bright red berries. ‘Mme Briot’ is similar, with leathery, dark green, spiny leaves with golden-yellow borders and white flowers in summer, followed by red berries.

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Botanical Pronunciation: I-leks a-kwi-FO-li-um