The Grove That Shows Why Holly Trees Still Captivate Us
Like the song says, it's time for mistletoe and holly. The holly tree has been a winter favorite throughout human history, but the genus, which includes hundreds of species, goes back much further than that. The oldest holly tree fossil came from Victoria, Australia. It lived alongside dinosaurs in the Cretaceous period more than 90 million years ago.
Humans have used holly in rituals and spiritual celebrations since the time of the Druids, when holly sprigs and branches were brought indoors during winter to ward off evil and shelter fairies. It was also considered the preferred wood for crafting magic wands. The Romans' December festival honoring the god Saturn featured decorations with holly inside and out. Gifts were given with a sprig of holly tied to them. From Norse mythology and Scottish folklore to Christianity, holly trees have gotten the spotlight for wintertime celebrations. For Christians, the prickly holly is said to represent Jesus' crown of thorns and the berries a reminder of his bloodshed.
Native Americans consider the yaupon holly one of their most sacred plants. It is North America's only native caffeinated plant. After boiling the leaves, Timucua warriors drank what was called "black drink" for strength and energy before a hunt or battle.
The diverse and longtime love of the holly tree in all its varieties is why I wanted to learn more from Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest's horticulture manager, Drew Combs, and plant records coordinator, Hannah Hunt. Bernheim is home to one of largest cultivated holly tree collections in North America and it just so happens to be just 30 miles south of where I live.
The collection exists thanks to Bernheim's first horticulture director, Clarence E. "Buddy" Hubbuch. In 1970, Buddy transformed a section of Bernheim that had been overrun with honeysuckle and other debris into a beautiful holly tree grove. Why holly trees and not some other tree? "Buddy liked hollies," Hannah and Drew told me. Buddy even introduced a new holly tree variety to the market, a fine-textured evergreen holly with striking red-orange fruit that he named "Marylin" for his wife.
Walking through the grove and seeing different examples of holly side by side, I was amazed by the variety. Bernheim has over 400. Some species are tall and triangular like a Christmas tree; others are short and stout, looking more like shrubbery. The berries also vary. Some are red, while others are yellow or orange and the male trees have none at all. Some trees have spiked leaves and others not so much. But the vibrant green with bright contrast of the berries on the female trees is so beautiful.
Beyond aesthetics and lore, the holly is an important tree for the ecosystem. The American Holly is the host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly, and it provides crucial winter food for birds and mammals. The tree skirts grow close to the ground which also helps shelter wildlife in harsh storms as well as protect them from predation.
At Bernheim, they don't prune holly trees for aesthetics, so the skirts remain low. It's great for wildlife, but Hannah explained that it's also "because part of the purpose is that if you planted this in your yard, that's what it would look like."
Drew added that visiting Bernheim is a great way to see what is possible at home. "That's the point of a botanic garden," Drew said. "If we can grow it here, you can certainly grow it at your house."
It's no wonder that through the ages, holly trees have stayed a part of our winter tradition. I love watching birds visit my feeders in winter, and now I think a pair of holly trees would make a great addition to my yard.
"From an arboretum perspective," Drew said of Bernheim, "this is a tree museum, that's how we think about it. So these are living pieces of art and we're stewards of them."
Holly trees of every species have earned their place in our winter celebrations and our hearts for thousands of years. And oh, by gosh by golly, Buddy Hubboch was right to feature them at Bernheim in a splendid collection that we may all cherish.
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