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Type in Ailment or Herb

Description:
This group consists of about 400 evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs as well as numerous hybrids and cultivars. These attractive plants are commonly known as Holly. Hollies range from compact dwarfs to large trees that can reach a height of up to 50 feet. Hollies are valued for their beautiful leaves, which may be glossy green, gold, bluish-green or reddish-purple and are sometimes variegated or edged with cream, yellow, or silvery white.

Some leaves are usually prickly while others don't have any spines at all. Hollies are also appreciated for their pretty berries, which may be red, yellow, orange, or black. Most Hollies are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are produced on different plants. For the females to produce berries there must be a male plant near by.

When choosing your plants, be careful when checking which ones are male and female, because some male plants have feminine names and some female plants have masculine names.

I. altaclarensis var.
Belgica Aurea is an attractive, female, large shrub or medium-sized tree covered with lightly spined, 3- to 4-inch, green leaves, which are mottled with light green and gray and edged with pale yellow or white. Another female variety of altaclarensis, called Lawsoniana, is a large shrub or medium tree that has very pretty, large, usually spineless leaves. The leaves are dappled with dark green, pale green and yellow. Any plain green shoots should be removed in order to preserve the variegation.

I. aquifolium
(English Holly) is a large shrub or small tree, capable of reaching 60 to 70 feet high in optimum conditions. This variety has glossy green leaves and bears bright red berries. Its berry-laden branches are in great demand during Christmas. There are numerous evergreen hybrids of this species that have varying shapes and colors; some, such as I. aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata Pendula' (Perry's Weeping Silver Holly), have pendulous branches covered with dark leaves edged with pale yellow. Most of this specie's varieties will flourish in industrial and coastal districts, but will not tolerate extreme heat and drought. These plants will form excellent hedges.

I. crenata var.
Mariesii is a dwarf, female, slow-growing shrub that almost doesn't resemble a holly at all. This variety forms a rigid, upright shrub up to 61/2 feet high that is excellent for growing in a container or for bonsai. It is covered with rounded, green leaves and in the winter, large, black berries.

Acebo Graphic Courtesy of Nomura (99-01-03)

Holly Link Here

Properties of Holly Favored by Aztec's

Used as a Fever Reducer and to Promote Perspiration

Aztec Method of Use
The Aztecs would boil 15 to 30 grams of fresh Holly Leaves in 1/2 liter of water for 15 min. and then drink 3 to 4 cups a day.