Ilex I. aquifolium x I. latifolia (EYE-leks keh-nee-AN-nah)
Family: AquifoliaceaeUnknownUnderstory (15-40 ft)
Understory (15-40 ft)Unknown
'Martha Berry' ranks among the best cultivars of the Koehne holly. It is a member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It is a hardy plant with a pyramidal form that is compact, dense, well-shaped and pleasing to the eye. 'Martha Berry' tolerates most soils except poorly-drained ones and can be grown in full to partial sun. It is tolerant of heat and humidity and is drought-tolerant once established. Prune in the late winter to control its size if needed. Mature plants do not tolerate root disturbance, so it is best to site the plant in its permanent position, preferably one that provides winter protection for the first year or two. Locate in an area that is protected from cold winter winds and hot summer sun. The dark green leaves along with the brilliant red berries add to its attractiveness. 'Martha Berry' is a female holly and requires a male pollinizer nearby to produce berries. According to the Holly Society of America, several male Koehne holly cultivars can serve as pollinizers: 'Loch Raven', 'Jade', 'Chieftain', and 'Ajax' have foliage and a habit very similar to 'Martha Berry' and bloom at the right time. 'Loch Raven', in particular, matches the leaf size and shape of 'Martha Berry'. The leaves of both are deep green. This is an excellent choice for a winter garden or pollinator garden. It can serve as a screen, accent, hedge or specimen. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Not as cold hardy as 'Nellie R. Stevens'. Insects that may affect this plant are holly leafminer, spider mites, whitefly and scale. Leaf drop and leaf scorch may be an issue. Yellowing of the leaves due to high pH soils can also affect the plant. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. More information on Ilex x koehneana .
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.
Often confused withIlex x koehneanaIlex x koehneana 'San Jose'
Fills a similar nicheIlex crenata 'Hetzii'Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens'Ilex x meserveae