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Oakleaf Red Holly Ilex Oakleaf™ 'Conaf'

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
EYE-leks
Description

One of the more exciting introductions into the world of hollies is the Oakleaf™ holly.  This evergreen beauty is a chance seedling from another well-known holly called 'Mary Nell'.  The Oakleaf™ cultivar is one of five different hollies introduced as the "red hollies" in the mid-1990s.

Grow in full sun or in very light shade. This holly cultivar has a pyramidal form and will reach a height of 14 feet, with some reports up to 20 feet, at a moderate rate of growth of about one foot per year.  They withstand sheering well and are resistant to insect and disease problems as well as deer browsing. 

Oakleaf™ holly gets its name from the shape of the plant's leaf, whose shape resembles that of our native Scarlet Oak tree.  The evergreen foliage starts out purplish green and then turns an attractive medium green with a lighter colored leaf edge.   While the flowers are insignificant they are perfect meaning they will produce attractive orange-red fruits without the need for a male pollinator.

The Oakleaf™ holly's eight-foot spread makes it ideal for evergreen hedges or planting in mass for screening purposes.  This showstopper is attractive enough to set out into your garden as a specimen plant and its glossy green leaves and showy fruits make lasting interest in the fall and winter garden.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems.

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:
Tags:
#evergreen#nectar plant#winter interest#specialized bees#disease resistant#pest resistant#deer resistant#red fruits#showstopper#pollinator plant#orange fruits#bird friendly#bee friendly#winter fruits#hedge#wildlife friendly#prickles
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#nectar plant#winter interest#specialized bees#disease resistant#pest resistant#deer resistant#red fruits#showstopper#pollinator plant#orange fruits#bird friendly#bee friendly#winter fruits#hedge#wildlife friendly#prickles
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ilex
    Family:
    Aquifoliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeast United States
    Wildlife Value:
    Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Screening
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Deer damage
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
    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
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    3/8 inch orangey-red drupes in fall that persist into winter.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small four petaled green to yellow-white flowers in clusters in the leaf axils in spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Prickly
    Smooth
    Waxy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    3.5 inch oak shaped leaf. In spring, leaves are bronze to purple burgundy in color and retain color for several weeks. Margins are serrated with 3-5 pairs of prominent spines.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Lawn
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Insect Pests
    Problems:
    Spines/Thorns