Ilex x koehneana
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks keh-nee-AN-nah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Koehne holly is an evergreen, artificial hybrid in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It is a cross between the European I. aquifolium and the Asian I. latifolia. The hybrid epithet honors German dendrologist and botanist Bernhard Adalbert Emil Koehne (1848–1918).
Grow these plants in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Avoid proorly drained clay soils. Although they are more heat tolerant than their parents, they will do better if given some protection from the afternoon sun in hot climates and protection from winter winds.
These evergreen shrubs or trees can be 6 to 25 feet tall and wide. Koehne Holly has a dense upright pyramidal shape with evergreen glossy spiny leaves and bright red berries in the fall. Female cultivars will need a male pollinizer nearby in order to set fruit. Prune in winter if needed.
Use this shrub or small tree as a specimen, in small groups or as a tall screen. It is a good choice for a winter garden or a formal English garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential insect problems include holly leafminer, spider mites, whitefly and scale. Potential disease problems include leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot and powdery mildew. Plants are also susceptible to leaf drop, leaf scorch and chlorosis (yellowing of leaves in high pH 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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Jade'
4-6 feet tall. Male cultivar
'Martha Berry'
- 'Wirt L. Winn'
Female cultivar 'San Jose'
Female cultivar - 'Jade'
- 'Jade', 'Martha Berry', 'San Jose', 'Wirt L. Winn'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Jade'
4-6 feet tall. Male cultivar
'Martha Berry'
- 'Wirt L. Winn'
Female cultivar 'San Jose'
Female cultivar - 'Jade'
- 'Jade', 'Martha Berry', 'San Jose', 'Wirt L. Winn'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers will attract bees and the fruit is eaten by birds and small mammals.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 21 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small round berry-like fruits are green when immature but ripen to bright red in fall. They are produced on female plants and are about 1/4-inch in diameter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- tiny, greenish-white to creamy-white flowers bloom in May. Flowers are fragrant but generally inconspicuous
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The dark green glossy foliage is alternate on the stem. Margins are beset with spines. The underside is a lighter green, and the shape is elliptic-long to ovate, 2 to 4 by 1 to 2 inches.
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- Silver-gray bark
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth purplish buds are 0.125 inches long with an acute tip.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- English Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
