Pollinator plant

European Holly

Ilex aquifolium

Pollinator recipe
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Common names

48 names · 34 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (33)
Dutch
French
Afrikaans
Asturian
Basque
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧洲冬青[3]
  • 欧洲枸骨[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐洲冬青[3]
Croatian
  • Božikovina[3]
Czech
  • cesmína ostrolistá[3]
Danish
Estonian
  • teravalehine iileks[3]
Finnish
  • euroopanorjanlaakeri[3]
Galician
German
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Greek
  • Ίλεξ ο οξύφυλλος[3]
  • Αρκουδοπούρναρο[3]
  • Λιόπρινο[3]
Hungarian
  • közönséges magyal[3]
Irish
Italian
Japanese
  • セイヨウヒイラギ[3]
  • セイヨウヒイラギモチ[3]
  • 西洋柊[3]
Korean
  • 서양호랑가시나무[3]
Lithuanian
  • Dygialapis Bugienis[3]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Ostrokrzew kolczasty[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Падуб остролистный[3]
Slovak
  • cezmína ostrolistá[3]
Slovenian
  • navadna bodika[3]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • Çoban Püskülü[3]
Ukrainian
  • Падуб звичайний[3]
Welsh
Sources & name notes (6)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Ilex aquifolium — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • English Holly — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Christmas Holly — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Common Holly — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex aquifolium.
  • European Holly — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex aquifolium.
[2] Ilex aquifolium — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • English holly — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Europäische Stechpalme — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Gemeine Stechpalme — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Gewöhnliche Stechpalme — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Hülse — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Common holly — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • European holly — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • holly — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • acebo — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Houx commun — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • agrifoglio — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Hulst — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • azevinho — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
[3] Ilex aquifolium — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • English holly — results[7].names[2]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Europäische Stechpalme — results[7].names[5]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Gemeine Stechpalme — results[7].names[46]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Gewöhnliche Stechpalme — results[7].names[33]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Hülse — results[7].names[47]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Common holly — results[7].names[32]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • European holly — results[7].names[1]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • holly — results[7].names[6]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • acebo — results[7].names[3]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Houx commun — results[7].names[7]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • agrifoglio — results[7].names[9]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Hulst — results[7].names[11]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • azevinho — results[7].names[8]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • grèvol — results[7].names[4]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • cesmína ostrolistá — results[7].names[10]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • 歐洲冬青 — results[7].names[12]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • teravalehine iileks — results[7].names[13]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Kristtorn — results[7].names[14]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • carrascu — results[7].names[15]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • kristtorn — results[7].names[16]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Dygialapis Bugienis — results[7].names[17]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Падуб остролистный — results[7].names[18]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • xardón — results[7].names[19]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • セイヨウヒイラギ — results[7].names[20]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • セイヨウヒイラギモチ — results[7].names[21]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • 서양호랑가시나무 — results[7].names[22]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Ostrokrzew kolczasty — results[7].names[23]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • cezmína ostrolistá — results[7].names[24]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Αρκουδοπούρναρο — results[7].names[25]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Ίλεξ ο οξύφυλλος — results[7].names[26]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Λιόπρινο — results[7].names[27]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Cuileann — results[7].names[28]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Acivro — results[7].names[29]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • järnek — results[7].names[30]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Božikovina — results[7].names[31]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • navadna bodika — results[7].names[34]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Çoban Püskülü — results[7].names[35]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • közönséges magyal — results[7].names[36]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • 欧洲枸骨 — results[7].names[37]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • 欧洲冬青 — results[7].names[38]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Падуб звичайний — results[7].names[39]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • 西洋柊 — results[7].names[40]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • euroopanorjanlaakeri — results[7].names[41]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Celyn — results[7].names[42]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • Gorostia — results[7].names[43]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • europese huls — results[7].names[44]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
  • huls — results[7].names[45]; taxon id 53856; Ilex aquifolium.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • common holly — Page 2, column 1, row top 127 pt; common-name cell after Ilex aquifolium.; Ilex aquifolium.
[5] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • common holly — Page 2, column 2, row top 352 pt; common-name cell after Ilex aquifolium.; Ilex aquifolium.
[6] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • common holly — Page 2, column 1, row top 697 pt; common-name cell after Ilex aquifolium.; Ilex aquifolium.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Aquifoliaceae

Genus-level classification for Ilex; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Ilex aquifolium.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
9.14–15.24 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
4.57–7.62 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Erect; Pyramidal

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Western and Central Europe, northern Africa, western Asia

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Ilex aquifolium in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4] [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Plant profile

About this plant

English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from May to June.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Ilex — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1893365; ID 62WJ5; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Ilex aquifolium — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Ilex aquifolium (top 352 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Ilex aquifolium (top 697 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Ilex aquifolium (top 127 pt)

    Source checked on .