Christmas evergreens [December 2004]
December is when evergreens take centre stage in our outside spaces. The ephemeral perennial and deciduous plants have retreated underground or are sitting out the winter as twiggy skeletons. It is no coincidence that holly, ivy and mistletoe have been valued for centuries as traditional winter decorations.

Our native holly Ilex aquifolium has male and female forms and in folklore if branches of the female tree were brought into the house for decoration before male boughs the women would 'rule' the household for the coming year. It is reported that in 19th century Tenby in S.Wales on Boxing Day women would be chased around town and beaten with holly by the townsmen - maybe they were being chastised for being forward with their decorations [or perhaps there were a lot of chilblains in Tenby as being beaten with holly is a 'cure']. In some country households until fairly recently branches of holly were set up and decorated as 'Christmas' trees and not the pine. Holly is said to bring good luck and its presence subdues household goblins who are at their most vexing at this time of year.

Holly is a fairly tolerant tree and provides good protection both from the elements and uninvited guests when planted along boundaries. There are many varieties of the native holly including variegated forms such as 'Silver Queen' which is confusingly male. For the less traditionally minded there are hollies with yellow berries such as 'Amber' as well as crosses and species that do not have exactly the same leaf shape but are still hollies, such as 'Indian Chief' and 'Nellie R Stevens'.

In the carol, holly goes with ivy, Hedera helix, although holly 'bears the crown'. Ivy was regarded as female by the Victorians who felt it embodied wifely virtues. Using ivy in the garden seems to have gone out of fashion and it is mostly unregarded or thought of as a nuisance - weakening mortar and render or helping curtail the life of old trees! The pale green late season flowers on mature ivy have a subtle charm and provide nectar for bees, wasps and flies, the berry clusters look good in Christmas decorations. Variegated forms can be used to lighten awkward shady spaces and there are some with particularly delicate leaf shapes such as 'Pedata' and 'Ivalace' which could be employed to good effect. In folk medicine ivy leaves have been used to clear up skin conditions and to help sick animals.

The mysterious semi parasitic plant Mistletoe is much associated with druidic rites, although sources suggest that 18th and 19th century historians embroidered the mystical connections. In the counties where it is plentiful it is associated with good luck and fertility. The berries are poisonous, but the leaves which are more benign, are used by herbalists as antispasmodics and for anxiety and palpitations. To grow your very own bit of ancient history apparently you simply place a berry on a host tree branch and bind it on with a fabric like cheesecloth and you will eventually get your own clump to be harvested for winter decoration.

So if you bring holly, ivy and mistletoe into your home this winter to decorate and celebrate, just think, you and your family will be part of a long tradition stretching back for many hundreds of years. But bear in mind the folklore! Neither holly or ivy should be brought in to decorate the house before Christmas Eve and they should not be burnt in the hearth but outside after Twelfth Night. Mistletoe however can be saved for the year to bring good luck.

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