Ilex hybrids
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks hai-bruhdz
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Ilex hybrids, or Japanese Holly hybrids, are a collection of handsome, deciduous, evergreen shrubs or small trees in the Aquifoliaceae family. The parent plant 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. The genus name, Ilex, comes from the Latin Quercus ilex for holm oak and refers to the similarity to oak in the shape of the leaves. In general, Japanese Holly hybrids have showy red or black fruits that provide fall and winter interest in the landscape and bright green foliage that lasts year round. The parent plant and its hybrids tend to be dense, rigid, compact, and range in height from dwarfs at 2 feet high up to 10 feet tall. The plant is resistant to damage by deer and tolerates severe pruning and you will find it often used to make topiaries. The cultivars listed with this entry are crosses between Ilex vericillata and Ilex serrata, but keep in mind that there are many species of the genus Ilex and many cultivars of those various species described under the general heading Ilex in this plant toolbox.
Plant Japanese Holly 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 tolerates drought, shade, air pollution, poor soils, and clay soils and is easy to transplant. Most hybrids have a slow growth rate and some 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). It is pollinated by bees and is not self-fertile. It is abundantly planted as an ornamental in North Carolina.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to 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:
-
- 'Apollo'
12 ft. male - 'Bonfire'
10 ft., red berries in large clusters
'Carolina Cardinal'
- 'Sparkleberry'
Upright, persistent scarlet berries
Compact, crimson berries, a JC Raulston Arboretum Selection - 'Apollo'
- 'Apollo', 'Bonfire', 'Carolina Cardinal', 'Sparkleberry'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Apollo'
12 ft. male - 'Bonfire'
10 ft., red berries in large clusters
'Carolina Cardinal'
- 'Sparkleberry'
Upright, persistent scarlet berries
Compact, crimson berries, a JC Raulston Arboretum Selection - 'Apollo'
- 'Apollo', 'Bonfire', 'Carolina Cardinal', 'Sparkleberry'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- 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
- Distribution:
- Throughout eastern United States.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Small fragrant flowers attract bees and blue black or red fruits are enjoyed by birds. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer
- Edibility:
- Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Prolific berry production; colors early season. Globose, berrylike-fruit on pollinated female plants from fall to spring that are 1/4 inch in length. Fruits are hidden below the foliage.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- 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:
- Small (1/4 inch), dull white fragrant flowers in spring that form in clusters of 1 to 3. Pistillate cyme, in leaf axils of current season's growth; staminate solitary in leaf axils of current season's growth.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple leaves; new growth is plum purple. Leaves are shaped elliptic or ovate to oblong-lanceolate. Leaves are 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches long and are crowded on stems. The underside of leaves are sometimes dotted with blackish pellucid glands. Leaves are good in flower arrangements. Their dark green color provides winter interest.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Green
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, gray-brown or slightly greenish.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are green on current season growth, and turn gray-green to gray-brown by year 2 or 3. They are often densely pubescent on young stems. Dense and rigid at maturity.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer