The easy-care holly or holly is best known as a garden plant, but it can also be cultivated in pots. It is extremely decorative with its spiky glossy leaves and bright red berries in autumn.
The red holly berries and leaves are highly poisonous
The tempting berries are an important food source for local birds from autumn through winter, as long as the berries are available. If they are not eaten, they remain attached to the bush for most of the winter. Unfortunately, the berries are poisonous to humans, as are the leaves of the plant.
Is holly suitable for my garden?
Holly shouldn't necessarily be the focal point of your family garden while your children are quite small. Older children understand that they are not allowed to eat the bright fruits. If you like bird and insect watching, then holly is a great addition to your garden. The yellow flowers attract insects at least as much as the red fruits attract birds.
You can also cut the decorative branches with the bright red berries as winter decorations for your living room. However, keep in mind that holly is a slow grower. The birds take over the propagation of the Ilex for you. With their droppings, they spread holly seeds throughout your garden.
Interesting facts about holly:
- very easy to care for
- slow growing
- Flowers very popular with insects
- poisonous berries in autumn (and winter)
- popular food source for birds
- Often propagated by bird droppings
tips
Plant your holly so you can see the birds feeding in the fall and winter.