“Berry Best from Hollywood”

1)   Ilex aquifolium   ‘Ferox Argentea’   (Variegated Porcupine Holly)

• This “Punk” star is a sterile male with spiny leaves, but obviously no berries.
• But this means it doesn’t contribute to English holly’s invasiveness in the Pacific Northwest.
• Old cultivar in England, first reported in 1662 (Galle).
• Specimen is located in the Eurasian clade (family), W. berm, of the Ilex Collection.

2)   Ilex maximowicziana var. kanehirae

• This “Mod” diva has a tidy upright form with black berries.
• Native to China and Japan
• Has gone through many name changes, intermediate between I. crenata and I. triflora.
• Specimen is located in the Asian/North American clade of the Ilex Collection.

3)   Ilex opaca  ‘Boyce Thompson Xanthocarpa’

• An American holly celebrity which dares to be different, sporting yellow berries.
• Reported to have been discovered in the wild, Mount Vernon, VA, late 1920’s.
• Specimen located in the American clade, S. berm, of the Ilex Collection.

4)   Ilex verticillata  ‘Winter Red’     (Winterberry cultivar)

• You don‘t always need to be dressed in leaves, says this scarlet actress.
• Reliable shrub with heavy, bright red fruit set and good berry retention.
• A nice thicket is found along Azalea Way, just north of Lookout Pond.

5)   Ilex x  ‘Nellie R. Stevens’

• This mischievous leading lady has been nothing but trouble!
• Claiming English holly parentage, but also Chinese holly parentage. In any case, no denying she certainly resembles English holly in my book.
• Specimen is located in the Eurasian clade, N. berm, in the Ilex Collection.