Aquifoliaceae Perennial evergreen tree. Native to Central and Southern Europe, Asia, North Africa and Central China. The use of Holly as a symbolic winter decoration, with its shiny, prickly leaves and blood-red berries, goes all the way back to the Druids, who decorated their huts with it during the time of Saturnalia. The leaves contain a bitter alkaloid, ilicin, and the tea has a pronounced diaphoretic effect, traditionally used for treatment of fever and as an upper respiratory decongestant. Sow in spring for germination the following spring.
Germination continues for three years.
Provide seedlings with partial shade for first year, and transplant in the fall, when the plants have attained a height of at least one foot. Prefers to grow in Oak woodlands, but will grow almost anywhere as long as the drainage is good. May be pruned to shape. Pruning also encourages berries to set. Grows slowly, but eventually attains a height of 30 feet and a diameter of 2 feet.