Hetz holly is a female cultivar of Ilex crenata and a handsome evergreen shrub in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It is similar in form but larger and faster growing than 'Convexa', with larger leaves. Selected around 1940 and named after holly breeder Charles Hetz. Plant in the full sun to partial shade in acidic well-drained soil though it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry, including clay. It may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9) and may also be less cold-hardy than other cultivars. It tolerates severe pruning, allowing you to control its height. It also tolerates drought and air pollution, poor, sandy and clay soils but is intolerant of alkaline soils. It does well in the shade and is easily transplanted. It has a slow growth rate and has few pest problems. At maturity, it forms a dense, rounded mound up to 6½ feet tall. Because ‘Hetzii’ is a female cultivar, it will need a male pollinizer to produce fruit. It is suitable for a drought-tolerant, Asian or winter garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious diseases or insect pests. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to turn yellow. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests. More information on Ilex crenata .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Leaves are small, alternate, simple, elliptic or obovate to oblong-lanceolate, and convex. They are dark green and the underside is dotted with blackish pellucid glands. They grow between 1/2 and 1 inch in length and are convex and 'hat-like'.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Cyme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are non-showy, dull greenish white in the spring. They grow in clusters of 2 to 3 and up to 1/4 of an inch. Inflorescence is pistallte a cyme in leaf axils of current season's growth.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Berry; Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruits are small, globose, black drupe in fall formed from the pollinated flowers on this female plant. A male cultivar is needed for pollination. The fruit are berry-like and slightly larger than 1/4 of an inch.
Bark color
Dark Gray; Green
Bark detail
Smooth, gray-brown or slightly greenish.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Stems are green on current season of growth, and turn gray-green to gray-brown by year 2 or 3. Young stems are often densely pubescent.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
East Nepal to Temperate East Asia, Japan and Korea
Wildlife value
The small fragrant flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators; Specialized Bees
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Berry; Drupe
Edibility
Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.