Variegated English Holly Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'

Variegated English holly is an evergreen shrub cultivar in the Aquifoliaceae (holly) family.  It is noted for its shiny dark green leaves outlined with creamy white. 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 is a female cultivar that produces red fruits when male cultivators are present. The beautiful dark green foliage of this shrub has white margins and is often used in Christmas greenery arrangements. The genus name comes from the Latin Quercus ilex for holm oak referring to the fact that holm oak and many of the shrubs in the genus Ilex have evergreen leaves. The species name comes from the Latin word acus meaning needle and folium meaning leaf.

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.

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; 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.