Oregon Holly Ilex aquifolium
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Oregon Holly:
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks a-kwee-FOH-lee-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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English holly is an ornamental. flowering, evergreen tree or tall hedge in the Aquifoliaceae family often found in well-drained soils in scrub, hedges and woodland where it is often the dominant under-story shrub. The plant is the traditional Christmas holly in Europe. It can be allowed to grow to its full height or pruned and trained as a 10 or 15 foot hedge. The genus name (Ilex) comes from the Latin name Quercus ilex for holm oak in reference to the foliage similarities. The specific epithet aquifolium comes from the Latin word acus meaning needle and folium meaning leaf.
It is not frost tender, in leaf all year, in flower in the spring, and the seeds ripen from November to March. The species is dioecious meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if the berries, that provide winter interest, are desired. The plant is pollinated by bees and is not self-fertile. It has glossy green leaves and thorns and is effective as a specimen plant, grouped as a tall hedge or foundation planting. It dislikes high temperatures and high humidity, so use only in protected locations. It also requires protection from cold winter winds. Prune in the winter as needed to maintain shape. It likes partial shade especially in hot summers and will not tolerate poor drainage. It can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor or very acidic soils.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
It can be challenging to grow in the south because it dislikes hot summers and cold winters.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aquifodina'
- 'Argentea'
- 'Britebush'
- 'Crinkle Variegated'
- 'Dapper'
- 'Ferox Argentena'
- 'Ivory'
- 'Marginata'
Spiny glossy green leaves with showy yellow leaf margins, variegeted, 40 feet high. - 'Moonbeam'
- 'Zelta's Elite'
- 'Aquifodina'
- 'Aquifodina', 'Argentea', 'Britebush', 'Crinkle Variegated', 'Dapper', 'Ferox Argentena', 'Ivory', 'Marginata', 'Moonbeam', 'Zelta's Elite'
- Tags:




- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aquifodina'
- 'Argentea'
- 'Britebush'
- 'Crinkle Variegated'
- 'Dapper'
- 'Ferox Argentena'
- 'Ivory'
- 'Marginata'
Spiny glossy green leaves with showy yellow leaf margins, variegeted, 40 feet high. - 'Moonbeam'
- 'Zelta's Elite'
- 'Aquifodina'
- 'Aquifodina', 'Argentea', 'Britebush', 'Crinkle Variegated', 'Dapper', 'Ferox Argentena', 'Ivory', 'Marginata', 'Moonbeam', 'Zelta's Elite'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- aquifolium
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is strong, hard and dense and polishes well, though it must be well dried and seasoned or else it warps badly. It is white, except at the center of very old trees, and is highly regarded by cabinet makers though it must be well seasoned.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western and Central Europe, northern Africa, western Asia
- Distribution:
- Canada, Pacific Northwest,
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Edibility:
- Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
- Thorns
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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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Red, yellow, or orange berries (drupes) 1/4 inch diameter that ripen in fall, persist into winter and are attractive to birds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Insignificant
- 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:
- Insignificant greenish-white fragrant flowers. Need to plant male and female plants.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Prickly
- Slippery
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green 1 to 3 inch alternate, simple, glossy, dark green wavy leaves with spines.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Pollution
- Salt
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Spines/Thorns
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and depression. Leaves and berries are low toxicity and it is only in very large doses that problems are likely to arise. Fruits particularly poisonous to children
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Saponins
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits