English Holly                I-leks a-kwi-FO-li-um

• Broadleaf evergreen shrub/tree, 30-50 ft (9-15 m), dense, pyramidal.  Leaves, alternate, simple, 2.5-7.5 cm long and 2-6.5 cm wide, lustrous dark green, undulating, spiny-margins; juvenile leaves very spiny, adult leaves less so.  Dull white fragrant flowers appear in spring, usually dioesious --- male and female plants.  Fruit bright red, 6 mm diam, persists into winter.
• Sun or partial shade. Needs protection from sun in hot, dry areas.  For good fruit set a male shrub is needed.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 7     Native range from the British Isles to southern and central Europe.  Grown commercially in the Pacific Northwest, but not common in the eastern U.S.
• Over 200 cultivars!  They may be grouped as non-variegated (green-leaved) or variegated.   The leaves in the latter group have may have yellowish (golden-leaved) margins or whitish (silver-leaved) margins, central blotches, or spots.
• aquifolium: classical name for holly.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: NE corner Hovland Hall.