Black Sea Holly

Dark, glossy evergreen leaves with striking spiny margins and clusters of bright red berries make Ilex colchica, the Black Sea Holly, an impressive structural shrub for year-round interest. Native to the damp forests around the Black Sea, this slow-growing evergreen features larger, more deeply veined foliage than common holly. In Spring, small, white, nectar-rich flowers open, attracting local pollinators. On female plants, these blooms mature into vivid red berries that ripen in Autumn and remain through Winter, providing essential food for wild birds. Exceptionally hardy and shade-tolerant, it adds structural interest to garden borders, woodland settings, and informal hedges.

Site: Tolerates exposure, including coastal
Soil: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Prefers neutral to acidic ground; dislikes heavy, waterlogged clay or shallow lime soils
Position: Full sun or partial shade. Grows well beneath canopy trees
Season of interest: Year-round glossy evergreen foliage. Bright red berries Autumn-Winter
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 10’-16’ (3-5m) Spread: 6.5’-10’ (2-3m)

Image 3 by Leonora (Ellie) Enking cropped and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0