Helleri Holly Ilex crenata 'Helleri'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks kre-NAY-tuh
- Description
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Heller Holly is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 5' and is a dwarf form of Ilex crenata. It is dense, rigid, and compact with a spreading mound and has non-showy, greenish-white flowers in the spring and small black drupe in the fall on female plants. Fruit is modestly produced. The plant withstands heavy pruning and can be used for topiary. It tolerates poor, sandy, and clay soils. It prefers the shade and is tolerant of pollution. It is intolerant to Alkaline soils and is easily transplanted. It has a slow growth rate and has known pest problems.
Quick ID Hints:
- This is a dwarf mounding shrub that grows up to 4ft tall.
- Leaves are alternate, crenate, evergreen, and small (2/5"-1" long).
- Leaves are dotted with black glands on the undersurface.
- 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:
- crenata
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- The small fragrant flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi. Berries provide a food source for birds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Mildly resistant to damage by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Fine
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small, globose, berry-like black drupe in fall on female plants. Fruit is modestly produced and slightly more than 1/5".
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Insignificant
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are rarely observed in clusters of 1-3 and are 1/5" in length. Non-showy greenish-white flowers in spring. Flower inflorescence is pistillate a cyme and staminate solitary in leaf axils of current season's growth.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Small, alternate, simple, flat dark green leaves that are 1/2" long. The underside is dotted with blackish pellucid glands.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are green on the current season growth and turn gray-green to gray-brown by year 2 or 3. Young stems are often densely pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
