Ilex Red Beauty (Holly)
Vigorous and well-branched, Ilex ‘Red Beauty’ is a compact, upright, evergreen shrub of pyramidal habit with excellent year-round interest. When pollinated by a male blue holly, it produces a profusion of attractive bright red berries from fall into winter. Extremely showy, they enliven the winter landscape and attract birds. The shiny foliage of small, spiny leaves remains dark green throughout the winter.
Vigorous and well-branched, Ilex 'Red Beauty' is a compact, upright, evergreen shrub of pyramidal habit with excellent year-round interest. When pollinated by a male blue holly, it produces a profusion of attractive bright red berries from fall into winter. Extremely showy, they enliven the winter landscape and attract birds. The shiny foliage of small, spiny leaves remains dark green throughout the winter. 'Red Beauty' is a female plant and needs a male pollinator to produce attractive red berries, such as 'Blue Prince', 'Blue Boy', or 'Blue Stallion' (any male blue holly – Ilex × meserveae). Ideal for hedges, foundation plantings, or even as a dramatic specimen, this is an outstanding plant for the winter landscape.
- Grows up to 6-10 ft. tall (180-300 cm) and 4-5 ft. wide (120-150 cm).
- Full sun to part shade lover, this plant is best grown in average, medium, well-drained soils. Tolerates light or heavy soils but prefers moist, acidic soils.
- Generally pest and disease free. Deer resistant
- Mass in mixed shrub borders. Perfect as a specimen plant, hedges or for foundation plantings. The red-fruited branches make lovely home decorations.
Requirements
Hardiness | 6 – 10 |
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Climate Zones | 3, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Shrubs |
Plant Family | Ilex – Hollies |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early,Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)FallWinter |
Height | 6' – 10' (180cm – 3m) |
Spread | 4' – 5' (120cm – 150cm) |
Spacing | 48″ – 60″ (120cm – 150cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
Tolerance | Deer |
Attracts | Birds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage |