Ilex latifolia: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southern Japan, China
Plant Profile: Ilex latifolia
Names
Lusterleaf Holly, Tarajo
Phonetic Spelling:EYE-leks lat-ih-FOE-lee-ah
Genus:Ilex
Species:latifolia
Family:Aquifoliaceae
Ilex latifolia is a robust, densely pyramidal evergreen shrub or small tree that can reach heights of up to 23 feet. To bear fruit, it requires both male and female specimens. This species is resilient to drought and thrives in shaded environments, featuring glossy leaves that make it an outstanding choice for an evergreen specimen, hedge, or espalier. The cultivar 'Mary Nell' is particularly noted for its abundant clusters of red berries, which grow on short stems in axillary formations. Additionally, the leaves of this plant are utilized in the Orient for tea. Fortunately, Ilex latifolia is not significantly affected by pests.
**Quick Identification Tips:**
Ilex latifolia Feature Summary
Tags
#evergreen
#small tree
#drought tolerant
#green
#shrub
#red berries
#wildlife plant
#yellow-green
#shade tolerant
#nectar plant
#berries
#specialized bees
#pest resistant
#deer browsing plant
#teas
#pollinator plant
#fantz
#bird friendly
#bee friendly
Similar Plants
Ilex latifolia is often confused with:
Ilex latifolia Feature Summary
Attributes
Southern Japan, China
Flowers attract bees and fruits are enjoyed by birds. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
Woody
Stem Cutting
Wildlife Food Source
Buffer
Fruit
Deep, dull orange-red globose berry borne in dense clusters that persist into spring and are less than 1" wide and 1" long. Fruits are on short penduncles in axillary clusters surrounding stems.
Berry
Red/Burgundy
Fall
Winter
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Leaves
Leaves are alternate and simple with a lustrous dark green color above and a yellow green color below. Leaves are oblong to ovate-oblong, obtuse or shortly acuminate, serrate with black gland at end of each tooth, and coriaceous. They grow between 3"-7" and 1 1/2"-3" wide.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Oblong
Obtuse
Serrate
> 6 inches
Leathery
Waxy
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Rounded
Pyramidal
Dense
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Flowers
Gold/Yellow
Green
< 1 inch
Stem
Green
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Border
Hedge
Mass Planting
Accent
Screen/Privacy
Small groups
Specimen
Barrier
Pollinators
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Ilex latifolia Image Gallery
Ilex latifolia Attributes
Ilex latifolia: Wildlife Value
Flowers attract bees and fruits are enjoyed by birds. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
Ilex latifolia: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Deer damage
Ilex latifolia: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Ilex latifolia: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Ilex latifolia: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Ilex latifolia Fruit
Ilex latifolia: Fruit Description
Deep, dull orange-red globose berry borne in dense clusters that persist into spring and are less than 1" wide and 1" long. Fruits are on short penduncles in axillary clusters surrounding stems.
Ilex latifolia: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Ilex latifolia: Fruit Color
Red/Burgundy
Ilex latifolia: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Ilex latifolia: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Ilex latifolia: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Ilex latifolia Leaves
Ilex latifolia: Leaf Description
Leaves are alternate and simple with a lustrous dark green color above and a yellow green color below. Leaves are oblong to ovate-oblong, obtuse or shortly acuminate, serrate with black gland at end of each tooth, and coriaceous. They grow between 3"-7" and 1 1/2"-3" wide.
Ilex latifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ilex latifolia: Leaf Color
Green
Ilex latifolia: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Ilex latifolia: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Ilex latifolia: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Ilex latifolia: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Ilex latifolia: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Ilex latifolia: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Ilex latifolia: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Ilex latifolia: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Ilex latifolia Whole Plant Traits
Ilex latifolia: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Ilex latifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ilex latifolia: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Ilex latifolia: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Ilex latifolia: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Ilex latifolia Cultural Conditions
Ilex latifolia: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Ilex latifolia: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Ilex latifolia: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Ilex latifolia: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Ilex latifolia: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Ilex latifolia: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Ilex latifolia: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Ilex latifolia Flowers
Ilex latifolia: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Ilex latifolia: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Ilex latifolia Stem
Ilex latifolia: Stem Color
Green
Ilex latifolia: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Ilex latifolia Landscape
Ilex latifolia: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Ilex latifolia: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Ilex latifolia: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Ilex latifolia: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
