Ilex, commonly known as HOLLY, is a genus of about 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae. It is native to the temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The most common species of HOLLY is the English HOLLY (Ilex aquifolium), which is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. Other species of HOLLY are used in traditional medicine and for making wreaths and decorations.