Hetz's Japanese Holly Ilex crenata 'Hetzii'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks kre-NAY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Hetz holly is a female cultivar of Ilex crenata and a handsome evergreen shrub in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It is similar in form but larger and faster growing than 'Convexa', with larger leaves. Selected around 1940 and named after holly breeder Charles Hetz.
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. It may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9) and may also be less cold-hardy than other cultivars. It tolerates severe pruning, allowing you to control its height. It also tolerates drought and air pollution, poor, sandy and clay soils but is intolerant of alkaline soils. It does well in the shade and is easily transplanted. It has a slow growth rate and has few pest problems.
At maturity, it forms a dense, rounded mound up to 6½ feet tall. Because ‘Hetzii’ is a female cultivar, it will need a male pollinizer to produce fruit. It is suitable for a drought-tolerant, Asian or winter garden.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious diseases or insect pests. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to turn yellow.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests.
- 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:
- 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. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Play Value:
- 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: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- 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
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are small, globose, black drupe in fall formed from the pollinated flowers on this female plant. A male cultivar is needed for pollination. The fruit are berry-like and slightly larger than 1/4 of an inch.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are non-showy, dull greenish white in the spring. They grow in clusters of 2 to 3 and up to 1/4 of an inch. Inflorescence is pistallte a cyme 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
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are small, alternate, simple, elliptic or obovate to oblong-lanceolate, and convex. They are dark green and the underside is dotted with blackish pellucid glands. They grow between 1/2 and 1 inch in length and are convex and 'hat-like'.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Green
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, gray-brown or slightly greenish.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are green on current season of 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:
- Coastal
- Container
- Lawn
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
