Ilex x altaclerensis 'Golden King' (also called female holly 'Golden King')
Ilex
x altaclerensis
'Golden King'
Bushy evergreen shrub or tree grown for glossy leaves with yellow edging and clusters of red berries in autumn and winter. Despite its name, this is a female plant and needs a male plant nearby for it to produce berries.
Makes an excellent specimen plant for a sunny or mixed border and will tolerate atmospheric pollution and coastal exposure. Low maintenance. The flowers attract bees and other insects, while the berries provide winter food for birds.
Foliage all year round, with berries in autumn and winter.
Habit - compact, roughly conical. H: 8m S: 4m.
Leaves - broad, ovate with few spines. Glossy, dark green with yellow margins.
Flowers - small white flowers in spring and summer.
Fruit - clusters of spherical red-brown fruits in autumn and winter.
Sun to light shade, sheltered or exposed.
Moist but well-drained or well-drained, moderately fertile, otherwise very tolerant.
Hardy.
Little needed - in late spring, remove any branches which are misplaced, crossing, diseased or dead and any growth that has reverted (turned all-green or all-yellow). Apply a mulch of compost or manure after pruning.
This plant dislikes being moved so put it into its final position and try not to disturb it.
May be affected by aphids, scale insects and holly leaf miner. Holly leaf blight is also possible.
Take semi-hardwood cuttings, with a heel, in autumn. Plants grown from seed will not be true to type.
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