Common holly  (Ilex aquifolium)

With its bright red berries (found only on female plants), and shiny evergreen leaves, the native holly tree has been a symbol of midwinter festivals since pre-Christian times (3). It grows as a shrub or tree, and has a narrow, conical crown and smooth silver-greyish bark (2). The fragrant male and female flowers are found on separate trees; they occur in clusters, and are white in colour (2). The dark green leaves are spiny, and have a waxy texture (4).