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Holly, predicting the weather ?

Holly, predicting the weather ?

Back in November, a number of papers reported that our holly trees were full with their bright red berries, and that according to folklore this was a sign that a hard winter was to come.

There is no clear logic to this, as it is the Spring weather that determines whether there are insects around for the flowers to be pollinated, plus sun and warmth in early autumn to help the berries to ripen.  The berries are particularly plump and abundant this year.  The last ‘good berry’ year was last year (2009) and the winter that followed was the coldest for some 30 years.  Already, we are experiencing cold and severe weather conditions so perhaps the berries are ‘right' again.

Holly has been used to decorate homes for centuries, and is particularly associated with mid-winter festivals.  Its evergreen leaves with their prickles around the entrance to the house were thought to stop 'evil forces' entering.   The leaves also have a high calorific value and in the past were used as fodder crop for cattle or sheep, and woods or groves of holly trees (known as hollins) were not uncommon.  The wood of the holly was once used for the making of bobbins for the cotton industry.   In 1802, some one hundred and fifty thousand holly trees were felled (Needwood Forest, Staffs *) to supply the northern cotton mills with bobbins.

Whilst the berries are bright and attractive, they are also toxic. [The berries are violently emetic and purgative].  Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe are all associated with the festive season.  They are all evergreen plants, whose foliage tends to last quite well in garlands, wreaths and other displays.

* see Mabberley's Plant Book 3rd edition, CUP 2008


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Discussion

The local wild holly Tree are devoid of berries this year they usually are abundant

Lol

4 December, 2022

My holly bush has a small amount of red berries right now on 18 th Apri.

Is this usual ?

Margaret Henderson

18 April, 2022

Holly — a really useful tree.
I was interested to read that holly wood accepts dye readily and that when dyed black, it was sometimes used as a substitute for ebony. I have a 1930’s vintage chess set, which I thought might be made from English holly, given the name of the company that made it, ILEX. The wood of the white chess pieces is very fine grained and has been turned from small diameter pieces that show full growth rings. It isn’t as white as one might expect for holly, but it is heart wood. Now I know that the black pieces might also be holly, dyed black. Thank you Chris.

Randall Osczevski

9 April, 2022

[…] holly berries are not berries,  technically they are drupes or stone fruits.  In these, the fleshy […]

[…] the many juicy berries currently to be seen on the Holly trees are harbingers of really cold weather to come remains to be […]

[…] cultivars offer variety in the garden – and don’t forget that it is said to predict a hard winter.AKPC_IDS += […]

Yes, ominously a large holly tree near us (in SE London) is covered with bright red berries !

Oliver

12 October, 2011

I’ve always found holly produces huge quantities of berries before an extremely cold winter. Last year our bush was almost bright red with berries and it turned out to be one of the harshest winters for many years. I love the first photo of the snow on the holly bush – a real festive scene!

Simon Green

12 October, 2011