64 InTouch December 2012

Young holly hedge. (Inset: female holly)

Background informationHolly is a native evergreen shrub. Ittolerates shade and often grows inthe shrub layer of an oak wood. Itsleaves are leathery and shiny andoften have sharp spines on the mar-gins. Their waxy surfaces preventwater loss. The flowers of bothmale and female hollies are whiteand emerge in May/June. Pollenfrom the male flowers is transferredto the female flowers by insects;the red berries which develop fromthe female flowers each containfour seeds.

Ivy (Hedera helix) an evergreen,native climber uses aerial rootsalong its stem to adhere to a host so that it can reach light. It is not aparasite as some people believe. Ithas its own root system complete-ly independent of the hostplant it uses for support.Its yellow-green flowersbloom from Septemberto December; thesedevelop into blackberries which are found inJanuary and February.

IndoorsMake an ivy wreath. See

www.ehow.com

OutdoorsStratify holly berries Thecutting of whole trunks and

boughs from trees has result-ed in a scarcity of this native

species. Schools can assist in its re-generation by growing Ilex aquifolium

from seed. All that’s needed are holly berriesfrom native trees, a large flowerpot of sand andof course patience! It will take over a year for theseeds to germinate in the damp sand. See ‘Pad-dy’s School Garden’ on www.blackrockec.ie

Examine ivy leaves There are two types of leaves:lobed and oval. There are three or five lobes onan ivy leaf. The non-lobed leaves produce theflowers and fruits. All leaves are leathery andglossy and coloured dark-green on the top and

pale-green underneath. The veins are light-green. There is minimum overlapping of leavesto maximise exposure to light. Some lobes arepointed; some are rounded.

Grow an ivy bush As we have seen the floweringshoots of ivy have oval-shaped leaves. If cuttingsare taken from these they will grow into ivybushes that will stand on their own. They willhave no climbing roots and will be fertile.

Grow a holly hedge A holly hedge on its own isvery attractive. It acts as a barrier against windbecause it filters it between its leaves and stems.It prevents intruders from entering the groundsand of course it’s also very useful for wildlife. Itcan also be planted in a mixed native hedge.Plant bare-rooted hollies in any month with an‘r’ except April and September. Use the guide-lines on Chapter 9 of ‘Go Wild at School’ for plant-ing same or watch an instructional video onwww.blackrockec.ie Click on ‘Paddy’s SchoolGarden’.

Zoom in on holly and ivyActive learning indoors and outdoors

PROS� Flowers full of nectar in atumn when it’s scarce

elsewhere.� Food for late-flying insects such as honey bees

and wasps.� Fruits in winter.� Food for hungry birds such as blackbirds, mistle

thrushes, robins and pigeons.� Roost for birds.

� Haven for hibernating insects andbutterfly larvae.

� Prevents erosionof soil.

� Atractive plant inwinter landscape.

CONS� Can hinder growth by smothering leaves and preventing

tree from breathing through its bark.� Can weigh down branches until they break.� By acting as a sail can increase risk of storm damage.� Destroys old walls and buildings of historical interest.

Increases dampness in walls.

The Ivy debate: friend or foe?

Stratifying berries

Mí na Nollag – Fócas ar Chuileann agus EidhneánPaddy Madden continues his series of SESE tips

Holly in snow

Cúrsaí Teagaisc

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InTouch December 2012 65

Useful websiteswww.logainm.ie www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild Factsheet onholly

Useful books� Irish Trees Myths, Legends & Folklore (2003) by

Niall Mac Coitir� Irish Wild Plants Myths, Legends & Folklore

(2006) by Niall Mac Coitir� Wild Things at School (2009) by Eanna Ní Lamhna

Placenames associated with hollyand ivy� Killaney – Ivy church� Inagh – Place abounding in ivy� Gleninagh – Glen of the ivy� Clonenagh – Meadow of the ivy� Cullen – Place abounding in holly� Kilcullen – Church of the holly� Glencullen – Glen of the holly� Moycullen – Plain of holly� Cloncullen – Meadow of holly

Paddy Madden lectures onSESE in Marino Institute ofEducation. He is the author oftwo books on school gardening,Go Wild at School and The

School Garden – What to do and whento do it. Available from paddy.madden@mie.ie .

The holly blue butterflyThis butterfly is unique be-cause its caterpillars eat theflower buds of differentfood plants. In spring the

females lay their eggs onthe buds of holly flow-

ers; the adultswhich emergefrom this broodlay their eggs onivy flowers.These spend thewinter as pupaeoften well-hid-

den in the ivy.Strand Units coveredthis month

Environmental awareness,Caring for the environment,Plant and animal life, The localnatural environment.

Folklore of holly and ivyHolly was classified by the 8th century Laws ofNeighbourhood as one of the seven ‘nobles of thewood’. These included as well oak, ash, yew, Scotspine, crab apple, hazel.

It had a high ranking because it was a most usefultree for war (making chariot shafts and spears) andfor feeding livestock. The fine for cutting down oneof these trees was two and a half milch cows; for cut-ting a branch a one year old heifer; for cutting a forka two year old heifer. Holly and ivy were used forprotection against evil spirits. In winter holly wasbrought indoors so that the “good people” could findshelter in it from the cold. Like ivy it was a symbol ofgreen life which would come in spring.

The word ‘holly’ comes from the word ‘holy’ andwas associated with Christ’s suffering: the thornsrepresented his crown and the berries his drippingblood.

Both holly and ivy leaves were put underthe pillow to foretell marriage. This rhymewas recited:

“Oh ivy green and holly red,Tell me, tell me when I shall wed”.

Teaching Matters

Mature holly hedge inthe National BotanicGardens

Ivy flower

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