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Whoa Nellie Holly Ilex 'Whoa Nellie'

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EYE-leks
Description

Whoa Nellie is a hybrid cultivar in the Aquifoliaceae (holly) family. This evergreen shrub can grow 12-25 feet tall and 8-20 feet wide in a pyramidal form. The attractive new yellow leaves show up well in the landscape and pair nicely with lavender fall-blooming perennials. Whoa Nellie produces a good crop of red berries in the fall with a heavier crop if a male shrub is nearby.

Use this plant as a specimen or hedge in full to part sun. It prefers moist well-drained acid humus-rich soils. 

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

 

More information on Ilex.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#specimen#privacy#variegated#bird friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#sun#berries#landscape plant sleuths course#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#specimen#privacy#variegated#bird friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#sun#berries#landscape plant sleuths course#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ilex
    Family:
    Aquifoliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Wildlife Value:
    Fruits attract the birds
    Dimensions:
    Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Drupes are green, maturing to red in fall
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Small insignificant flowers appear in June-July
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    New grow is yellow in color. Leaves may have 1-2 or no spines.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    English Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Songbirds