• Photo of Ilex x 'Scepter' (Ilex x 'Scepter's)

Plant Profile: Ilex x 'Scepter'

Names

Scepter Holly

  • Photo of Ilex x 'Scepter' (Ilex x 'Scepter's)

Phonetic Spelling:EYE-leks

Genus:Ilex

Species:

Family:Aquifoliaceae

Scepter Holly is a small, low-maintenance plant that does not require pruning. This fast-growing holly features a pyramidal shape and was named Holly of the Year by Gene Eisenbeiss in 2009.

Ilex x 'Scepter' Feature Summary

Ilex x 'Scepter' Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#wildlife plant
#nectar plant
#specialized bees
#deer resistant
#pollinator plant
#bird friendly
#bee friendly

Similar Plants

Ilex x 'Scepter' Feature Summary

Attributes
Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
Wildlife Food Source
Sound
Buffer
Fruit
Bright red fruit in clusters of two to ten; persists into winter
Berry
Drupe
Red/Burgundy
< 1 inch
Leaves
The leathery, glossy, dark green leaves are oval and nearly spineless
1-3 inches
Glossy
Smooth
Waxy
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Border
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Accent
Screen/Privacy
Small groups
Specimen
Patio
Lawn
Slope/Bank
Coastal
Pollinators
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Ilex x 'Scepter' Attributes

Ilex x 'Scepter': Country Or Region Of Origin

United States

Ilex x 'Scepter': Wildlife Value

Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.

Ilex x 'Scepter': Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Deer damage

Ilex x 'Scepter': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ilex x 'Scepter': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Ilex x 'Scepter': 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 x 'Scepter' Fruit

Ilex x 'Scepter': Fruit Description

Bright red fruit in clusters of two to ten; persists into winter

Ilex x 'Scepter': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Ilex x 'Scepter': Fruit Color

grass
Red/Burgundy

Ilex x 'Scepter': Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Ilex x 'Scepter': Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Ilex x 'Scepter': Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ilex x 'Scepter': Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ilex x 'Scepter' Leaves

Ilex x 'Scepter': Leaf Description

The leathery, glossy, dark green leaves are oval and nearly spineless

Ilex x 'Scepter': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ilex x 'Scepter': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Ilex x 'Scepter': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Ilex x 'Scepter': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Ilex x 'Scepter': 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 x 'Scepter': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ilex x 'Scepter': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ilex x 'Scepter': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Ilex x 'Scepter': Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Ilex x 'Scepter': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ilex x 'Scepter' Whole Plant Traits

Ilex x 'Scepter': 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 x 'Scepter': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ilex x 'Scepter': 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 x 'Scepter': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Ilex x 'Scepter': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Ilex x 'Scepter' Cultural Conditions

Ilex x 'Scepter': 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 x 'Scepter': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Ilex x 'Scepter': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Ilex x 'Scepter': 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 x 'Scepter': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Ilex x 'Scepter': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Ilex x 'Scepter': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Ilex x 'Scepter' Stem

Ilex x 'Scepter': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ilex x 'Scepter' Landscape

Ilex x 'Scepter': 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 x 'Scepter': 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 x 'Scepter': 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 x 'Scepter': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Ilex x 'Scepter': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees