Commonly known as holly olive, the juvenile, spiny-edged leaves, shiny and leathery, of this evergreen shrub in the Oleaceae (olive) family, grow opposite on the stems rather than alternately as Ilex aquifolium (common holly) does. But as can be seen on this lovely specimen, planted in the Asia Garden in 2003 (near the sweet chestnut  trees,  west of the Rose Garden) the mature leaves can be smooth-edged, entire.