Ilex crenata 'GOLDEN ROCK'^®

Ilex crenata 'GOLDEN ROCK'®
Japanese holly, box-leaved holly

SIZE/TYPE	medium-sized shrub
USUAL HEIGHT	0.5-1.5m
USUAL WIDTH	0.5-1m
LEAVES	evergreen broadleaf
COLOUR OF LEAVES	+multicoloured:yellow and green
FLOWERS	insignificant or non-blooming
LOCATION	full to partial sun
SOIL TYPE	acidic (peaty) to neutral
SOIL MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS	evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)	5b (down to -27°C)
WINTER PROTECTION
FOR ZONE 5+6
FOR ZONE 7
BELONGS TO CATEGORIES	Evergreen broadleaf

One of the most elegant evergreen shrubs is undoubtedly this Japanese holly. It has leaves similar to boxwood and is often used as its substitute. Golden Rock is a recent introduction from German town Wiesmoor, where Uwe Renken found it in 2000 as a natural mutation of another holly variety called Golden Gem. The plant was patented in 2009 under PP20,062 in USA and 20070174 in Europe. Propagation without license is prohibited.

Golden Rock is attractive for its golden-yellow top leaves, leaving the bottom ones dark green. This bicolour effect is very unusual and elegant. Leaves are small and glossy, gently serrated at margins. Fruits, if any, are small, glossy black berries in autumn. As opposed to its parent this plant grows upright and not as wide as Golden Gem. This can make it a nice, compact specimen with bright coloured foliage. Pruning in spring will encourage new growths, and trimming by end July is ideal for shaping.

Box-leaved holly is usually trouble-free, it does best in medium fertile, acid, moist but well-drained soil. Once established it can withstand summer dry spells. Grow it in full sun or part shade, in full shade it will lose its shape and brighntess. Hardy to min. -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 06-02-2010

SIZES and PRICES

CURRENTLY SOLD OUT

NOT IN STOCK? WHY NOT TO TRY A SIMILAR ONE:

GLOSSARY

STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.