Irish Trees
Irish Trees: click below
Alder |
Oak Pedunculate Oak Sessile Rowan Scots pine Strawberry tree Willow Wych elm Yew |
Holly
Cuileann
(Ilex aquifolium)
The evergreen holly is a native species which forms the shrub layer in some of
our oldest woods. You may look for it in woodland, or in the narrow gullies of the
Sperrins or Donegal uplands, where holly and rowan can survive the harsh upland
conditions.
It is another visually attractive small tree very suitable for gardens as a specimen
tree or as a hedge, slow growing and very dense. Holly trees are either male or
female - only the female can bear berries, so it is always worth planting several
holly trees together. Both sexes bear small creamy flowers.
Although they drop their spiny leaves all the year round, especially in the heat of
summer, they are green all year, and along with ivy were traditionally used for midwinter
or Christmas decorations, as a sign of green life to come. In some areas it
is considered unlucky to cut down holly, and it may be left as standards along a
hedgerow. The hard pale wood is valued for wood carving.