Ilex x attenuata

• BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex x attenuata
• PRONUNCIATION: I-leks x a-TEN-u-ata
• COMMON NAME: Foster's Hybrid Hollies
• FAMILY: Aquifoliaceae
• NATIVITY: Of hybrid origin: I. cassine x I. opaca
• GROWTH HABIT: Narrow, pyramidal, not as dense as most hollies, and finer textured.
• SIZE: 20 - 30'
• HARDINESS: Zone 7 - 9
• CULTURE: Sun, in a moist, well-drained soil. Has considerable heat tolerance.
• LANDSCAPE USE: Makes a good specimen plant, useful for its regular, formal appearance and its typically fine textured foliage, branches.
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, elliptic to oblong-ovate, 1 1/2 - 3" long. Margins with 1 - 8 spines.
• BUDS:
• BARK: Mature bark is a smooth silver gray.
• FLOWERS: Small, cream white, fragrant. Plant is dioecious.
• FRUIT: Drupe, orange-red to red, about ¾" in diameter.
• PROPAGATION: Cuttings.
• PESTS: None serious.
• CULTIVARS:
  • `East Palatka' - bright red fruits, wider leaf spined above the middle.
  • `Fosteri' - numbers 1-5 exist but mainly 2, 3 are sold. Narrow leaves and abundant fruit.
  • `Hume' - numbers 2, 4 mainly sold. Nearly spineless with bright red fruit.