Ilex crenata 'Geisha'
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Common Name: Japanese holly
Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Description: Greenish-white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Flowers not Showy
Leaves: Evergreen
Fruit: Showy Fruit
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerates: Clay Soil, Air Pollution
Uses: Hedge

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions, including clay soils and urban pollution. Prefers light, moist, acidic soils with good drainage. Chlorosis (leaf yellowing) may occur in alkaline soils. Japanese hollies are dioecious (separate male and female plants). 'Geisha' is an all-female cultivar which needs a male pollinator in order to produce fruit. May not be reliably winter hardy throughout USDA Zone 5 where it should be grown in a protected location with a winter mulch.

Noteworthy Characteristics

'Geisha' is a dwarf, evergreen Japanese holly cultivar which is noted for producing yellow berries in fall as opposed to the more usual purple to red. It grows somewhat slowly in a rounded mound to 3-4' tall. Features elliptic to obovate, glossy green convex leaves (typically 1/2 to 1 1/4" long). Japanese holly foliage somewhat resembles boxwoods more than hollies. Tiny, greenish-white flowers appear along the stems in the leaf axils in late spring. If pollinated, the flowers give way to yellow, berry-like drupes (1/4" diameter) in fall. Flowers and fruit are inconspicuous.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Spider mites can be troublesome. Nematodes are a problem in the South.

Garden Uses

Small hedge. Foundation plant. Shrub border. Rock garden.

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