Ilex latifolia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks lat-ih-FOE-lee-ah
- Description
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Ilex latifolia is a large, densely pyramidal evergreen shrub or small tree up to 23ft tall. It requires both male and female plants to produce berries. This plant is drought-tolerant, shade-tolerant has shiny leaves, and is an excellent evergreen specimen, hedge, or espalier. '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. This plant has no serious pests.
Quick ID Hints:
- Fruit in axillary clusters surrounding twigs.
- Large, evergreen, coriaceous, serrate, oblong leaf
- Black gland at tip of every tooth
- Some leaves are convex and some are not
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Mary Nell'
- 'Purple Power'
- 'Mary Nell'
- 'Mary Nell', 'Purple Power'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Mary Nell'
- 'Purple Power'
- 'Mary Nell'
- 'Mary Nell', 'Purple Power'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- latifolia
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Japan, China
- 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
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 23 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 7 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- 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" wide and 1" long. Fruits are on short penduncles in axillary clusters surrounding stems.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Waxy
- 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"-7" and 1 1/2"-3" wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- 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
