Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of a wide variety of soils ranging from moist to dry and from sand to clay. Prefers light, moist, acidic soils with good drainage. Established plants have some tolerance for drought. Plants may struggle with the heat and humidity of summers in the deep South in USDA Zones 8-9. Plants are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), so both male and female plants must be present in order for the female plant to be pollinated and produce fruit.
'Drops of Gold' is a female clone. The best and brightest yellow leaf color occurs in full sun locations.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Ilex crenata, commonly known as Japanese holly or box-leaved holly, is a dense, multi-branched, evergreen shrub with a rounded form that typically matures to 5-10’ tall and as wide. It is native to forests, thickets and mountain slopes in Japan, Korea, China and eastern Russia (Sakhalin). It is noted for its ovate to elliptic, crenate to serrulate, glossy, spineless, evergreen, deep green leaves (to 1 1/4" long) which are attractive all year, 4 petaled white flowers which bloom in 3-7 flowered cymes in late spring (May-June), and black rounded somewhat inconspicuous fruits (drupes to 1/4” diameter) which mature in fall on pollinated female plants.
Genus name comes from the Latin name Quercus ilex for holm oak in reference to the foliage similarities (holm oak and many of the shrubs in the genus Ilex have evergreen leaves).
Specific epithet is in obvious reference to the crenate margins of the leaves.
'Drops of Gold' is a broad, upright-spreading, compact selection which matures to 3-4' tall and to 4-5' wide. It is noted for its glossy, broadly elliptic, evergreen leaves (each to 1" long) with irregular yellow-gold variegation. 'Drops of Gold' was discovered in November of 1987 growing in a block of Ilex crenata 'Hetzii' in a nursery in Geneva, Ohio, and is believed to be a spontaneous mutation of 'Hetzii'. When plant leaves (particularly the outer leaves) are exposed to full sun as they emerge and mature, those leaves appear golden yellow or are well-splashed with golden yellow. Shaded inner leaves or leaves of plants grown in shady locations exhibit considerable loss of yellow color, typically appearing yellowish green to green. Tiny white female flowers in May-June are followed by berry-like black drupes which mature in fall. U. S. Plant Patent PP14,420 was issued on December 23, 2003.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Spider mites can be troublesome. Nematodes are a problem in the South.
Uses
Mass or group. Hedge. Borders. Incorporate into a foundation planting.