Detailed information sheet

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Botanical name : Ilex aquifolium Family : Aquifoliaceae (holly) Common name : Holly Also known as : English holly Where is it originally from? : Europe, West Asia, North West Africa What does it look like? : Evergreen, much-branched shrub or small tree (to 12 m tall). Glossy dark green leaves (3-10 cm long) alternate along the stem, are paler below, and have wavy, thick, usually deeply serrated edges, with a spine at each point. Flowers with four white petals (3-5 mm long) occur in clusters from October to November and are followed in winter by round, bright red berries. Are there any similar species? : Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) has thick, glossy, almost rectangular leaves and berries in summer; the variegated form is common in cultivation. Other Ilex species are grown in cultivation but have not naturalised in NZ. Why is it weedy? : Large, long-lived species that can withstand a variety of conditions and tolerates most soil types, but prefers good drainage, and is shade tolerant. How does it spread? : Seed is bird-spread and it also spreads by suckering (sprouting from roots) and layering (rooting of branches that touch the ground). What damage does it do? : Competes with native plants for light, nutrients and water. Suckering and layering allow holly to form dense thickets that can dominate the tall shrub layer, creating a deep shade difficult for native species to grow in. Which habitats is it likely to invade? : Native and plantation forest, forest edges and hedgerows. What can I do to get rid of it? : 1) Hand pull seedlings and small plants (all year round): mulch or dispose at refuse transfer station. 2) Swab stumps (all year round): cut down and paint freshly cut stumps with glyphosate (200ml/L) or Tordon Brushkiller (200ml/L). Dispose of cut material at refuse transfer station. 3) Bore and fill (spring-summer)): 1 downward angled hole every 5-10 cm around the trunk, 1.5 ml per hole Tordon Brushkiller (undiluted). 4) Frilling (all year round): With a sharp chisel or axe, make a deep cut into the sapwood at 5 cm intervals around the base of the tree, taking care not to ring-bark the plant. Immediately saturate the cuts with 1.5 ml of Tordon BK (undiluted) or glyphosate (200ml/L). What can I do to stop it coming back? : Monitor the site and treat regrowth and seedlings. If possible, search out and eliminate the source of the infestation.

For more detailed botanical descriptions of weed species, check out the Plant Conservation Network's website at http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/exotic_plant_life_and_weeds/index.asp

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*The chemical control methods in this manual were devised by Department of Conservation staff for Department of Conservation operations and should not be used as a substitute for the pesticide manufacturer's label instructions. The Department of Conservation takes no responsibility for any liability or damage to any person, property or thing which may occur as a result of the use of any pesticide in accordance with the chemical control methods contained on this website.

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