Helleri Holly Ilex crenata 'Helleri'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks kre-NAY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Heller Holly is a female cultivar of Ilex crenata, which is a native of Japan and east Asia and can be found in thickets, woods and wet places in lowland and mountains all over Japan. Heller Holly is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 5' and is a dwarf form of its parent. Heller Holly is dense, rigid, and compact with a spreading mound and has non-showy, greenish-white flowers in the spring and small black drupes in the fall. Fruit is modestly and infrequently produced. The plant withstands heavy pruning and can be used for topiary. It tolerates poor, sandy, and clay soils, prefers the shade, and is tolerant of pollution. It is intolerant of alkaline soils and is easily transplanted. It has a slow growth rate. The 'helleri' cultivar was named Holly of the Year for 2015 by the Holly Society of America.
Plant in the full sun to partial shade in acidic well-drained soil though it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry, including clay. The shrub can be pruned to manage its size so it works well in small spaces. It may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9). The species is dioecious (meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant, thus both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. In the case of Heller Holly, another cultivar type would be needed, since all Heller Holly are female).
Diseases, Insect Pests,and Other Plant Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to spider mites and nematodes. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to yellow.
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:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- crenata
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Nepal to Temperate East Asia, Japan and Korea
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- 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.
- Edibility:
- Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
- Appendage:
- Spines
-
-
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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
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 appearing infrequently in fall on female plants. Fruit is modestly produced and slightly more than 1/4 of an inch.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Insignificant
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are rarely observed in clusters of 1 to 3 and are 1/4 inch 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.
-
-
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
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Small, alternate, simple, crenate, flat dark green leaves that are 1/2 inch to 1 inch long. The underside is dotted with blackish pellucid glands.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Green
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, gray-brown or slightly greenish.
-
-
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.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
