Ilex program - Four Season Nursery

Michigan Holly, Common Winterberry, Coralberry
Botanical name:
Ilex
ver cillata
Genus
species
‘Sparkleberry’
Cul var (GMP)
What is to know about Michigan Holly ?
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Winter beauty, you can actually see the fruit
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Will grow in very damp places
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Male and female flowers are on separate plants, (new word for the day: dioecious).
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Both male and female need to be flowering at the same me for pollina on. There are
many different cul vars, both male and female, so it is important to coordinate their
flowering when choosing plants.
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Flowers are small, white and not very showy. Female flowers have green knob in center, males have large anthers. The amount of fruit developed is directly related to the
number of pollinators are in your garden.
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Flowers are set in the leaf axil of new growth, usually around mid June.
Popular cul vars
Male:
Southern Gentleman
Early Male
Female:
Red Sprite
Winter Red
Sparkleberry
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Male plants are usually smaller than female when purchasing at nursery. One male can
fer lize 5-7 female plants if in close proximity.
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Overall size of plants will be 5’-8’ tall x wide. There are some that are toted as being
dwf, but I don’t believe the experts.
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Normally used as a mass plan ng, not an accent plant. The winter appearance is a li7le
disheveled.
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Deer really like this plant, all year long.
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How to prune? Thin out crossing branches, then shape. You can cut back hard if shrubs
get too large or gangly. Quo ng Michael Dirr; “chainsaw pruning”
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The conundrum regarding pruning. Prune in the spring and you cut off blossoms,
prune in the fall and you cut off fruit, so...? Prune in early spring.
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What is to know about Blue Holly :
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This holly is evergreen so fruit is not as showy.
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Will grow in average soils. Have found it doing well in our sandy soils.
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Tolerates shade very well and will s ll fruit, but not as heavyily
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This plant can also be “chainsaw pruned” . This should be done in early spring.
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Male and female flowers are on separate plants, (remember new word).
♦
Both male and female need to be flowering at the same me for pollina on. Males
will produce pollen over an extended period in the spring– early summer.
♦
Flowers are small, white and not very showy. Female flowers have green knob in center of flower, male have large anthers. The amount of fruit developed is directly related to how many pollinators are in your garden.
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Flowers are set in the leaf axil in late summer. Late summer pruning will remove
many of the next seasons flowers.
Meserve Holly cul vars:
Male:
Blue Prince
China Boy
Blue Boy
Blue Stallion
Blue Princess
China Girl
Female:
Blue Girl
Ilex x Meserve `China Boy’ `& `China Girl’ are technically a cross between Ilex
cornuta (Chinese Holly) & Ilex rugosa (men oned above). This cross has a
lighter green foliage and a chartreuse colored stem. The foliage is not as
glossy as original Meserve.
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Should protect from winter winds.
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Deer love it!
Ilex: A la n word meaning
holm oak
Ilex x Meserveae
Meserve Holly or Blue Holly.
Meserve Holly is a cross between Ilex
rugose (low growing, cold hardy) and
Ilex aquifolium (English tree form).
Breeding done by Mrs. Leighton Meserve.
Other Holly’s of note
Ilex crenata:
Japanese Holly
A broadleaf evergreen very
similar to boxwood with many
cul vars to numerous to menon. Dioecious, but fruit of no
valve so not important. Usual
size is 4-6’ tall & wide. ‘Sky Pencil’ is a ght upright grower.
Ilex glabra :
Inkberry
Similar to Japanese holly
with a li7le longer leaf and internode spacing a bit more. Dioecious with female plant producing a black drupe, normally solitary. Usually not grown for
frui ng habit.
Many good cul vars.
‘Compacta’: dwarf female clone,
4’-6’ round, will get leggy if not
pushed back. Survives –24 temp.
‘Shamrock’: Similar to ‘Compacta ‘but slowing growing. Will get leggy if not
sheared.
‘Nigra’: tough plant that can take hard shearing if you like to make statues with
your plants. 4-6’, good fruit produc on if male is present. Na ve to southern
states.
It is a boxwood and a chainsaw would have been appropriate. I just couldn’t remove it as the homeowner requested.
Instead I made it into a boxwood tree!
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It’s a broadleaf evergreen, but what kind;
Ilex or Buxus ?
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The plant is 60 + years
old with a big hole
from winter kill. I
probably should remove it?