Ilex latifolia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks lat-ih-FOE-lee-ah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Ilex latifolia, or Tarajo Holly, is a large, densely pyramidal evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to 23 feet tall. Tarajo Holly is native to southern Japan and eastern and southern China and is often found growing in broad leaf forests. The genus name, Ilex, comes from the Latin Quercus ilex for holm oak and refers to the similarity in the shape of the leaves. Latifolia is Latin for broad leafed.
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. Tarajo Holly can be pruned to manage its size and it tolerates drought, shade, air pollution, poor soils, and clay soils and is easy to transplant. It does have a slow growth rate and 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). It is pollinated by bees and is not self-fertile. This plant has large, shiny leaves (the largest of any holly) and is an excellent evergreen specimen, hedge, or espalier. The cultivar 'Mary Nell' produces a heavy set of red fruit. The fruits are on short penuncles in axillary clusters of surrounding stems and leaves are used in orient for tea.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
This plant has no serious pests. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to yellow.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Mary Nell', 'Purple Power'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Mary Nell', 'Purple Power'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- latifolia
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves are used as a tea substitute. The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Japan, Eastern and Southern China
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees and fruits are enjoyed by birds. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer damage
- Edibility:
- Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 23 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 7 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
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
- Shallow Rocky
- 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:
- 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- 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:
- Deep, dull orange-red globose berry borne in dense clusters that persist into spring and are less than 1 inch wide and 1 inch long. Fruits are on short penduncles in axillary clusters surrounding stems.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- 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, greenish 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
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obtuse
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate and simple with a lustrous dark green color above and a yellow green color below. Leaves are oblong to ovate-oblong, obtuse or shortly acuminate, serrate with black gland at end of each tooth, and coriaceous. They grow between 3 and 7 inches long and 1 1/2 to 3 inches wide. Some leaves are convex and some are not.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Bumpy
- Bark Description:
- Dark brown bark with a rough surface.
-
-
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:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
