What is a holly flower?
Flowers are small, white, grow in clusters, and are sweetly scented. Common holly is pollinated by bees so female trees must grow within bee range (100 feet or so) of a male to be pollinated. Berries are present in the winter and are typically red but may be orange or yellow. Holly is a well-loved shrub that shelters birds and gives hedgehogs a cosy place to hibernate. White flowers with four petals bloom in early spring. Female flowers develop into rich red berries, which remain on the tree throughout winter. Holly is native to the UK.Holly can grow very tall, up to 15m. It’s an evergreen tree so stays in leaf all year round, with sharp, spiny leaves that are thick, glossy and dark green in colour. You can see it flowering between May and August with small white flowers, each with four petals. In winter it fruits with shiny red berries.Today, Christians have adopted the holly tree as a symbol for Christmas. The sharp leaves are said to symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Christ, while the berries represent his blood. The evergreen quality of the tree is metaphoric for eternal life.
What is special about holly?
In Christianity, holly was adopted as a symbol of Christ’s crown of thorns, the crimson berries a symbol of his blood and the evergreen a metaphor for life after death. The tradition of decking the halls with boughs of holly at Christmas continues today. The Druids regarded holly as a symbol of fertility and eternal life, thought to have magical powers. In Druid lore, cutting down a holly tree would bring bad luck. In contrast, hanging the plant in homes was believed to bring good luck and protection. Holly was also thought to protect homes against lightning strikes.Holly’s Symbolism in Christian Tradition At its heart, holly is strongly linked to Christian symbolism with its evergreen nature representing eternal life and making it a powerful reminder of a supposed everlasting life promised through faith in Christ.In another Christian myth, a holly bush sprouted leaves with thorns to hide and protect baby Jesus from King Herod’s men. As goes the myth, Jesus reciprocated the deed by making the holly an evergreen. In nature, holly affords shelter to birds and small mammals during cold winter months and through harsh snowstorms.In Christianity, holly was adopted as a symbol of Christ’s crown of thorns, the crimson berries a symbol of his blood and the evergreen a metaphor for life after death. The tradition of decking the halls with boughs of holly at Christmas continues today.In Celtic mythology the holly is also said to symbolises peace and goodwill. The druids regarded it as a symbol of fertility and eternal life. They believed the tree to possess protective qualities, able to guard against evil spirits and dark magic.
Is holly a Christmas flower?
After mistletoe, holly is probably the most festive flower there is. Its evergreen nature means its leaves are more thick-skinned than most other flowers and shrubs, giving it an ability to survive the harshness winter. The spiky leaves of holly serve a specific purpose: they help protect the plant from herbivores. The sharp, spiky edges deter animals from feeding on the foliage, especially in areas where grazing pressure is high.Romans used holly to ward off lightning strikes, and they often included it as a decoration when giving gifts. Druids hallowed the evergreen plant, appreciating its greenness in the drab winter landscape. To them, holly became a hair ornament and outdoor home decoration that offered woodland fairies a place of shelter.When you think of holly, you probably picture the green leaves and the bright red fruits. But did you know that only the female plant produces these red fruits? And that holly does actually flower—it’s not all fruit all the time! Unlike poinsettia, holly is toxic to humans, dogs, cats and horses if consumed.
Why is holly so special?
Holly is an iconic evergreen that’s been used for centuries and across the globe for winter festivals, and that’s probably because, in the dead of winter, it’s one of the few things that actually looks alive. The December birth flowers are holly and narcissus (specifically, the paperwhite). December Birth Month Flower: The Holly The holly symbolizes your wish for domestic happiness. Although some animals and birds enjoy holly berries, they are semi-toxic to humans. The good news is that deer tend to avoid eating holly.