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English holly (Ilex aquifolium)

English holly is an introduced shrub or small tree that is cultivated in cooler parts of Australia and has naturalised in some areas. It can establish in bushland, where persistent growth may shade and suppress native understorey plants.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Europe.

Established in: NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA.

Other names: Holly, Common holly.

Best time to act: Survey when the bright red fruit makes mature plants easy to spot, and treat before fruit is dispersed, with follow-up checks for regrowth and seedlings.

Identification

  • An evergreen shrub or small tree, usually to 10 m tall but sometimes reaching 15 m.
  • Leaves are leathery, dark green and glossy above, usually with wavy edges bearing 5–9 sharp, spine-like teeth; some leaves, especially high on old trees, have smooth edges.
  • Leaves are about 3–11 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide, with a short stalk.
  • Small white or pinkish flowers grow in clusters in the leaf axils.
  • The fruit is a bright red, round or oval drupe about 7–10 mm across.

Where it grows

In Australia it is often cultivated in cooler areas and has naturalised in the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and ACT, including in cool, sheltered bushland sites.

Why it matters

  • Established plants can create shade that suppresses native understorey plants and regeneration.
  • Its persistence in bushland can complicate restoration and require repeated weed control.
  • Bright red fruits can attract birds, which may help spread the plant into surrounding vegetation.

How it spreads

  • Birds eat the fruit and disperse seeds into bushland.
  • Seeds can also be moved in fruiting plant material or contaminated soil and garden waste.

Control options

  • Hand-pull or dig out small plants and seedlings, removing the roots where practical.
  • For larger plants, use a suitable registered herbicide by a label-approved cut-stump or other approved method, following all label directions.
  • Remove and dispose of fruiting material so berries are not spread; do not leave fruit where it can be carried away.
  • Revisit treated areas for regrowth and new seedlings, and check with the relevant state or local weed authority about local guidance and reporting.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil, fruit and plant debris from boots, tools, vehicles and machinery before leaving an infested site.
  • Contain and dispose of fruiting material and contaminated soil appropriately rather than moving them to uninfested areas.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Not a priority weed. Not a state or regional priority weed in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Permitted, not declared. Listed as a permitted organism in WA, so it can be brought in, but it is not a declared pest.
  • Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
  • Northern Territory: Check NT list. There is no NT weed profile for it. Check the NT declared weeds list for its current status.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board

Sources