Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) BSWJ10856

sugerokii v. brevipedunculata

A small spineless leafed variety of this holly with a compact growth habit, with dark green ovate leaves only 2.5-3.5cm long, which bears axillary flowers in July followed by sizeable bright red berries around 8mm across. A very hardy species which we collected seed of from an exposed high mountain in Aomori in the far north of Honshu Island Japan in the autumn of 2005, where it only grew to 1.2m tall. Easily grown in most drained soils while being indifferent to sun or shade.