| Shape | Large shrub or small tree with sporadic branching resulting in a rounded crown. Upright growth.
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| Landscape | Used as a border planting, hedge or massing. |
| Propagation | Propagated by seed and cuttings. Seeds should be sown into well-draining soil in late autumn once seeds are ripe. Germination can take between 16 and 20 months to fully germinate depending on harshness of weather and quality of fruit chosen for propagation. This stratification process is vital for the growth of the plant; sometimes taking 2 full years to germinate. Cuttings can be taken year-round with substantial success. The best times for taking cuttings are in autumn and spring, planted in a protected location and left for approximately 2 years before transplanting.
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| Cultivation | Well-drained and pH neutral soils in full sun to partial shade.
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| Pests | Susceptible to scale and holly leaf miner. |
| Habitat | Mountainous forest. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Thin and void of lenticels but often hidden behind foliage until mature or pruned.
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| Leaf Description | Glossy foliage, pinnately veined and ovate with acute tips and base. 5 cm in length and 3 cm in width. One of few species of Ilex which exhibits spineless leaves. Alternate leaf arrangement with petioles approximately 1 cm long. |
| Flower Description | Small, male flowers are grow in clusters of 4 – 5 and female flowers grow singly on separate plants. Blooms in May and June. |
| Fruit Description | Berry-like drupes, grow singly on 3 - 4 cm long peduncles appearing in autumn and persisting into winter months when not consumed by birds or dropped due to ripeness.
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| Colour Description | The bark is a greyish-brown colour. Leaves are green and a slightly pale yellow in winter. Flowers are white. The fruit are bright red in colour. |
| Texture Description | The bark is thin and smooth. The berry-like fruit is smooth in texture. |