San Jose Holly Ilex x koehneana 'San Jose'
Other 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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'San Jose' is a female cultivar of the Koehne holly with an erect, narrow-pyramidal, densely-branched form. It is a member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae).
'San Jose' grows well in medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Although rather cold hardy, it does best when protected from cold winter winds. Partial afternoon shade should be available to the site if grown in hot summer climates. Prune in winter if needed.
This large evergreen shrub or small tree typically grows to 20 to 25 feet tall with a spread of 12 to 15 feet wide. Branches are clad with glossy, spiny-margined, elliptic, evergreen, dark green leaves (2 to 3 inches long). Fragrant but tiny, greenish-white flowers bloom in May. If pollinated by a male plant, flowers give way to berry-like red drupes (⅓ of an inch in diameter) that ripen in fall and persist into winter. Birds are attracted to the fruit.
Grow this holly in a winter garden or pollinator garden. It can serve as a screen, accent, hedge or specimen.
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- I. aquifolium x I. latifolia
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- 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
- Buffer
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer damage
- Edibility:
- Use caution. Berries are slightly toxic to humans if eaten in quantity.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 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
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 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:
- 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:
- Must be pollinated by a male plant to bear fruit. Berry-like red drupes (⅓ of an inch in diameter) that ripen in fall and persist into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant, tiny, insignificant, greenish-white flowers bloom in Spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy, spiny-margined, elliptic, evergreen, dark green leaves (2 to 3 inches long).
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
