Ilex pernyi
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks PERN-yee-eye
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Perny Holly, a native of Southern China and Tibet, is a tall, showy evergreen tree or shrub with beautiful berries. The leaves are small and diamond-shaped with sharply toothed margins to provide winter interest but are also sharp to the touch. The flowers are yellow but insignificant and small and berries on the female plants are red. In winter the plant is covered with bright red berries that attract birds and making it a good candidate for use as a specimen or accent plant. The plant is dioecious (meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if berries are desired). It is pollinated by bees.
The plant is often used for breeding hybrids. .For example, Ilex x aquipernyi is a cross between I. aquifolium (English Holly) and I. pernyi, from which 'Meschick' (sold as Dragon Lady) is a female cultivar.
This holly is tolerant of most soils except poorly-drained ones and can be grown in full to partial sun. It is is drought tolerant once established. Prune in the late winter to control its size if needed. The fruit and evergreen leaves make for winter interest in the landscape. The spiny leaves make this a good choice for a barrier or privacy screen or use as an impenetrable hedge. It can also be planted as a specimen, used in small groups, or planted along a foundation. Mature plants do not tolerate root disturbance, so it is best to site the plant in its permanent position, preferably one that provides winter protection for the first year or two.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known disease or insect 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:
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- Dragon Lady
- Ilex x aquipernyi 'Brilliant'
- Ilex x aquipernyi 'San Jose'
- Dragon Lady
- Dragon Lady, Ilex x aquipernyi 'Brilliant', Ilex x aquipernyi 'San Jose'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Dragon Lady
- Ilex x aquipernyi 'Brilliant'
- Ilex x aquipernyi 'San Jose'
- Dragon Lady
- Dragon Lady, Ilex x aquipernyi 'Brilliant', Ilex x aquipernyi 'San Jose'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- pernyi
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tibet, Central and Southern China, Myanmar
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds. 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):
- Deer damage
- Edibility:
- Use caution. Berries are slightly toxic to humans if eaten in quantity.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 9 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- 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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Red 1/4 inch fruit tightly clustered along the stem, holds from fall through winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, inconspicuous yellowish flowers. Male and female flowers are on different plants (dioecious). Fragrant but not showy.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Prickly
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, simple, glossy dark green leaves; 1/2 to 1 inch long; one to three spines on each side of leaf, and sharply toothed margins.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth gray bark becoming finely flakey with size.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender, green stems turning reddish-green in the winter. Branchlets are dense.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer