A Tree a Week: American Holly

12/5/2025

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“Love is like a wild rose-briar; Friendship is like the holly-tree. The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms, but which will bloom more constantly?”

-Emily Bronte

The American Holly on campus is enchantingly picturesque on this beautiful winter day in Chatham. Beneath the morning snow, her crimson red berries offer a delightful contrast, showcasing her fruit to the small mammals, birds, and white tailed deer who rely on her for food all winter. Against the backdrop of her glossy green and prickly leaves, these berries also adorn the Christmas wreaths we make each year for the doors of every building on campus. With the guidance of Mrs. Molly Thomas, our Freshman class has learned to wear gloves during this important weekend tradition, as each oval leaf has a row of spines. Nonetheless, nothing says Christmas like holly!

As an evergreen, the American Holly is an important understory tree, usually only 20 to 50 feet in height and ½ to 1 ½ feet in diameter. Along the side of St. Mary’s, our hollies are a focal point, securing the sacredness of our chapel with their hedge-like form. Across the way, the American Holly of our Arboretum is an extraordinary specimen, with perfectly symmetrical codominant stems that are nearly the same size in diameter. Arising from a common and low junction, the tree has maintained good form and branch structure and has reached a height of nearly 70 feet. When one views our steeple from the western side, the American Holly offers a stately upright friend with its dense, attractive foliage, pyramidal shape, and seasonal interest.

Interesting Facts

American hollies are dioecious, meaning they have separate male and female trees, and only female trees produce berries, which are poisonous to humans and pets but vital for wildlife. This evergreen is known for its glossy, spiky leaves and can live for up to 300 years, sometimes reaching 70 feet tall.
Older American hollies have thin, smooth, light gray bark ,but saplings are green to light brown in color and are slightly hairy.
Though not very strong, the wood of an American Holly is often used for inlays in cabinet work, handles, rulers, and small novelty items.
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 metaphorical for eternal life. The leaves of the American Holly are also commonly used for winter decoration, like wreaths and “mistletoe.”

From the Arbor Day Foundation

The American holly tree has been popular since the beginning of American history, having served Natives with wood for different applications and berries that were used for buttons and barter. It was said to be a favorite of George Washington, and more than a dozen hollies he planted are still evident today. The first scientific observation of the American Holly tree was recorded in 1744.

Holly sparked spiritual status and a place in traditions dating back to ancient Rome and Saturn, the Sun God. 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.

Early Christians borrowed the holly traditions when Christmas became established around the same time in the annual calendar as winter solstice. They saw a crown of thorns in the plant and the red drops of Christ’s blood. When colonists came to America shortly before Christmas of 1620, they were delighted to find the American version of the English holly they left behind. Eventually, the use of holly around Christmas became more popular after the release of The Night Before Christmas around 1822. By 1851, it was reported that 250,000 bunches of holly boughs were sold annually.

Holly sprigs are widely known as the everlasting symbol of Christmas cheer.

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