Ilex vomitoria 'Will Fleming'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks vom-ih-TOR-ee-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Ilex vomitoria 'Will Fleming' is a cultivar of I. vomitoria, a species of evergreen shrubs or small trees native to the eastern United States and often found native in North Carolina. The 'Will Fleming' cultivar, or Will Fleming Holly, is a narrow, dense, upright form of the species that grows up to 15 feet tall and can act as an exclamation point in the landscape. The Will Fleming Holly has tight, close-knit appearance initially, but over time as the plant matures, it opens out providing excellent vertical interest as a loose screen, accent, or border plant. Plants of this species are dioecious (separate male and female plants) and female plants need a male pollinator in the area in order to bear fruit. Will Fleming Holly is a male cultivar and will not bear fruit but can be used as a pollenizer for female varieties.
Will Fleming Holly is drought and salt spray tolerant, tolerates wet soil, is easily transplanted, and has no known pest problems. Plant in average well-drained soils in sun to shade. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and can take heavy pruning. Resistant to Phytophthora root rot.
Fire Risk:
This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Resistant to Phytophthora root rot. No insect or disease problems when planted in their native habitat. Holly leaf miner, spider mites, whitefly, and scale are occasional problems. Leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot, and powdery mildew are potential disease problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- vomitoria
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood from this plant was used by Native Americans to make arrows. The leaves were used for ceremonial tea, which, when consumed in large quantities, caused a cleansing now memorialized by the specific epithet. Also contains caffeine.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States and Mexico.
- Distribution:
- Southern United States from Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas.
- Wildlife Value:
- 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
- Edibility:
- Use caution. The young leaves may be picked, browned and dried in an oven, steeped in hot water and used to make Yaupon tea. It contains caffeine. In quantities, can be mildly toxic.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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:
- 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:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Male plant that does not produce fruit.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Produces small, inconspicuous greenish-white fragrant flowers in spring that are solitary or in pairs and are clustered on peduncles in leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Small, finely serrated, lustrous dark green foliage is alternate, simple, glossy and 1/2 to 3/4 inches long. New growth has a yellow-green tinge. Leaves are oval to ovate and are shallowly toothed around the margin to the base.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Vertical Spaces
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian 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
