Common holly 'Alaska'

Synonyms: ostrolist Alaska, common holly Alaska

Ilex aquifolium ’Alaska’ — a cultivar of the species Ilex aquifolium of the genus Ilex (Ilex L.) in the family Aquifoliaceae. The cultivar was obtained in 1960 in Wuppertal (Germany) by H. and D. Nissen.

It is an evergreen, slow-growing shrub with a compact conical or pyramidal crown that becomes wider with age. It reaches 5-7 m in height and about 3 m in width. Annual growth — up to 15 cm in height and 10 cm in width. At 40 years it reaches 3.5 m in height and 2-2.5 m in width. Branches are thick and grow vertically. The root system is wide and deep.

Leaves are alternate, less decorative than those of some other Ilex aquifolium cultivars, 3.5-5.5 (7) cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, with a wavy margin, with 5-7 spines along the edges on both sides, glossy, dark green or green, leathery and dense.

The plant is dioecious. Female flowers are small, white, with 4 sterile apical leaves, an ovary and a stigma. Male flowers lack an ovary and stigma.

The fruits are spherical drupes of bright red color, up to 1 cm in diameter, glossy. Fruits appear no earlier than 3-4 years after planting.

Hardiness zone: 4b(28°C).

Location: prefers partial shade and shade; grows in full sun only with sufficient moisture. Tolerates air pollution and smoke well.

Soil: prefers light, moist, woodland soil, necessarily underlain by lime-containing bedrock. Performs poorly on dry and heavy soils. Does not tolerate drought.

Planting: it is recommended to plant young specimens; mature plants tolerate transplanting poorly. In regions with mild winters planting is carried out in winter; elsewhere, in early spring. For abundant fruiting cross-pollination must be considered, so planting 2 or 3 plants is recommended.

Pruning: tolerates trimming and formative pruning well; pruning is recommended in May-June.

Care: young plants need protection from bright winter and early spring sun. In dry and hot summers they require watering.

Pests: leaf-mining fly

Diseases: Phytophthora (Phytophthora)

Propagation: by cuttings

Uses: used in solitary and group plantings, for creating live and clipped hedges and topiary. In Western Europe it is used as a Christmas decoration. Widely used in folk medicine.