A remarkable feature of the Holly tree is its habit of producing two types of leaf. On the lower branches, where the leaves are within reach of browsing animals, every leaf has sharp points along its margin; higher up, where protection is no-longer needed, each leaf has but a single point. This leafy transformation happens through epigenetic modification. This is a fascinating way that organisms adjust their gene expression without actually changing their DNA. This encouraged prickliness is a useful character that can be invoked by hedge-trimming to produce a stock-proof hedge.
Holly wood is the whitest of all woods, and is heavy, hard and fine-grained. It can be stained and polished and is used to make furniture or in engraving work. It is commonly used to make walking sticks. Holly wood also makes good firewood and burns with a strong heat.
Holly provides dense cover and good nesting opportunities for birds, while its deep, dry leaf litter may be used by hedgehogs and small mammals for hibernation.
The flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the holly blue butterfly, along with those of various moths, including the yellow-barred brindle, double-striped pug and the holly tortrix. The smooth leaves found at the tops of holly trees are a winter source of food for deer.
The berries are a vital source of food for birds in winter, and small mammals, such as wood mice and dormice.
At Trebrown Nurseries we maintain our own registered seed stands on Trebrown Farm, which remain the only seed stand registered in Cornwall. Ilex aquifolium is not a FRM controlled species, but is certified under the voluntary FRM scheme.
