Variegated English Holly Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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 15-40 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide in a pyramidal shape. This shrub will do best in areas with cooler summer nights such as the Pacific NW. This is a female cultivar that produces red fruits when male cultivators are present.
This plant needs fertile acidic moist soil in full sun to partial shade. Give it additional water during drought conditions and prune as needed.
The beautiful foliage of this shrub is often used in Christmas greenery arrangements.
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
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- 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:
- 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:
- 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 rarely produced
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- 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 1-3 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
