Variegated English Holly Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks a-kwee-FOH-lee-um ar-JEN-tee-ah mar-ji-NAH-tah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Variegated English holly is an evergreen shrub in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It is a female cultivar noted for its shiny dark green leaves outlined with creamy white.
This plant needs fertile acidic moist soil in full sun to partial shade. Give it additional water during drought conditions and protect from winter winds. It can be pruned in the winter and can be trained to grow as a large shrub. When pruning, keep in mind that next year's blossoms and berries will appear on new growth.
It typically grows 15 to 40 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide in a pyramidal shape. This shrub will do best in areas with cooler summer nights such as the Pacific Northwest. This cultivar produces red fruits when male pollinizers are present. The beautiful dark green foliage of this shrub has white margins and is often used in Christmas greenery arrangements.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. English holly is said to be a better ornamental tree than American holly (Ilex opaca); however, American holly has better winter hardiness. English holly tends to dislike cold winters (below 0 degrees F.) and hot and humid summers.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- aquifolium
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds will eat the fruits
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small red drupes are produced on female plants when a male plant is present.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This female shrub has small pinkish-white four-petaled blooms in spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Oval shiny green leaves with white margins up to 1 to 3 inches long. The margins are serrated with spines.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
