The festive four evergreens of holly, ivy, mistletoe and yew will forever be entwined with legends and magic. Graham Burnett on their symbolism and uses. Plus how to grow them

Falling on 21 or 22 December, the winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the traditional calendar this is the festival of rebirth: darkness has reached its peak, and from now on the days begin to lengthen as warmth, light and life slowly but inevitably return to us and to our gardens. It’s still hard to imagine, but in just a few weeks snowdrops and crocuses will be breaking through the cold earth and brightening our parks and plots. The bare buds of deciduous trees will begin to awaken, their autumn dormancy giving way to the first stirrings of fresh green growth and blossom as the wheel of the year turns once more. But right now is the time of the evergreens, especially holly, ivy, yew and mistletoe, a quartet sharing deep Yuletide associations from Druidic times to the modern era.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
“The holly tree grew slow and steady, branching out as the seasons came. Strong under the light of day and a willing perch for each passing robin” – Angela Abrahams

With its shiny, tough and spiky leaves, this is one of most recognisable evergreen native trees, found in hedgerows, woodlands and gardens across Europe. It’s slow growing, yielding a dense white wood traditionally used for carving and turning, or as a hot-burning firewood. Symbolising everlasting life and fire in the spirit, it bears bright red berries, an important source of food for birds during the bleak midwinter. Traditionally holly would be planted near the house to ward off evil spirits, and according to Fez Inkwright’s book Folk Magic and Healing, the “felling of two holly trees in the 1950s in a Devonshire parish led to violent protests from locals who believed this would cause havoc from poltergeists”. Holly berries are mildly poisonous to children and may cause vomiting and diarrhoea, although can be used as a purgative to rid the body of unwanted toxins. The leaves and bark can be made into a poultice to ease the pain of broken or dislocated bones. To propagate, collect the berries in winter, removing the seeds from the flesh by soaking for a few days, then washing thoroughly. Stratify the seeds in pots for one or two winters (see Idler #99 for more details) as they are slow to germinate.

Ivy (Hedera helix)
“So stick up ivy and the bays, and then restore the heathen ways, green will remind you of the Spring, though this great day denies the thing, and mortifies the earth, and all, but your wild revels, and loose hall” – Henry Vaughan

Ivy is a common sight in many gardens, and often regarded as quite a nuisance due to its tendency to smother other plants and damage brickwork. It is however invaluable as a wildlife habitat, particularly for bees and nesting birds. In folklore ivy represents fidelity and the cycles of life and death. Ivy leaves have been used in traditional herbal medicine for respiratory ailments, coughs, and congestion. Should you wish to propagate ivy this can be done by layering, pressing a vine into moist soil and holding it in place with a brick or wire staples until new roots form, then pot it up.

Yew (Taxus baccata)
“Of vast circumference and gloom profound, this solitary Tree! A living thing, produced too slowly ever to decay; Of form and aspect too magnificent, to be destroyed” – William Wordsworth

The ancient yew, often found in churchyards, is extremely long lived, with some specimens easily predating the arrival of Christianity in the British Isles. The Fortingall Yew in Perthshire is believed by some to have stood for at least 9,000 years, and the yew’s immense longevity and ability to regenerate from old wood has made it a symbol of immortality. In Celtic and Druidic traditions, it was a gateway tree, standing at the threshold between worlds.

Yew produces a tight-grained tough and resilient wood, traditionally used to make longbows, wheels, cogs and lutes. All parts of the yew are highly poisonous, except for the slimy and glutinous red fleshy arils surrounding the seed (snottygogs being a traditional children’s name for these). Taxol, a powerful compound derived from yew bark, inhibits cell growth and division. It’s used in modern cancer treatments including Docitaxel, a drug I’m pretty sure helped to save my life thanks to the NHS. Yew is easily propagated, with cuttings taken from lateral branches generally producing shrub-like plants, while those from erect top branches are more likely to grow into a tree.

Mistletoe (Viscum album)
“Christmas time, Mistletoe and wine, children singing Christian rhymes” – Cliff Richard

What could be more festive than this evergreen? The seasonal significance of this semi-parasitic plant far predates the arrival of Christianity however. Mistletoe is steeped in mystery, symbolism, and tradition. It grows attached to the branches of trees including oak and apple via a feeding stem called the haustorium, extracting water and nutrients from its host. Recognisable for its glossy green leaves and pearly white berries, it is probably best known for its associations with drunken indiscretions at office parties, a tradition which in the UK seems to date back to the 18th century. But in Celtic and Norse mythology mistletoe was considered sacred, possessing protective powers and bringing health, fertility, and good fortune. Ancient myths tell of the god Balder, who was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe. His mother, the goddess Frigg, wept so bitterly that her tears transformed into the plant’s white berries. These are said to be mildly toxic, causing symptoms similar to drunkenness, but I’ve not tested this out. I’ve also heard that mistletoe is notoriously difficult to propagate, but if you want to have a go, collect ripe white berries (they should feel soft and sticky) in January or February. Sow seeds directly by rubbing the berries into cracks in the bark of the host trees, eg, apple, hawthorn, lime, or poplar, and if you’re lucky the haustorium will begin to establish and anchor itself to the host by March or April.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes and is not intended as a source of medical advice. Please seek the advice of a medical professional before using any plant-based medicines.

Graham Burnett is a permaculture activist and teacher. His latest book Make Compost, Not Work! – Gardening Columns from the Idler is available from spiralseed.co.uk with a special 10% off for Idler readers – quote IDLER25 at the online checkout.

This article is from Idler #106.

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