The Dirt | Weed of the Month November 2026 | English holly (Ilex aquifolium)

Image describes English holly (Ilex aquifolium): a popular shrub, invasive, toxic berries, and management tips for control.
A close-up of a holly branch featuring glossy green leaves and bright red berries, set against a blurred green background.
English holly leaves and fruit. Photo credit: Audrey Muratet via Wikimedia Commons.
The image features clusters of bright red berries on a green holly plant, surrounded by glossy leaves.
English holly berries. Photo credit: Meneerke Bloem via Wikimedia Commons.
A cluster of white flowers among glossy, spiky green leaves, likely from a holly plant, set against a blurred background.
English holly leaves and axillary flowers. Photo credit: Olivier Pichard via Wikimedia Commons.
A dense bush with red berries surrounded by tall trees in a forested area, with some fallen trees in the background.
English holly shrub in a forest understory. Photo credit: Frank Vincentz via Wikimedia Commons.
A close-up of a holly branch featuring glossy green leaves and bright red berries, set against a blurred green background.
The image features clusters of bright red berries on a green holly plant, surrounded by glossy leaves.
A cluster of white flowers among glossy, spiky green leaves, likely from a holly plant, set against a blurred background.
A dense bush with red berries surrounded by tall trees in a forested area, with some fallen trees in the background.

Our November Weed of the Month is English holly (Ilex aquifolium). English holly is a popular species used for privacy hedges and holiday wreaths. Its stiff, waxy, dark green leaves and bright red berries tend to stick out in the gloom of winter. There are several variegated cultivars of this species as well. Outside of its intentional use in an urban setting, this species tends to escape and be a nuisance in natural areas and parks. The sharp spines on the margins of the leaves can be dangerous for small children, and in large thickets, can impede wildlife movement. The red berries are toxic to humans and can cause nausea and vommitting. 

Manual/mechanical management of this species is usually most effective. Because of the waxy cuticle of the leaves, foliar herbicide application is less effective, especially without the use of an adjuvant. Basal-bark spot spray or cut-stump spot spray are the most effective methods for chemical treatment.

Keep reading

  1. OSU Solve Pest Problems - English holly
  2. OregonFlora - English holly
  3. Native Plant Trust Go Botany - English holly