How to identify Perny's holly (Ilex pernyi)

How to identify Perny's holly (Ilex pernyi)

Perny's holly boasts a statuesque evergreen presence with an abundance of sparkling red berries that grace its form predominantly in the winter. Its foliage is comprised of petite, diamond-shaped leaves with sharply serrated edges, which can be quite prickly upon touch. The plant's flowers, although present, are typically overlooked due to their small size and pale yellow hue. Noteworthy is the plant's dioecious nature, necessitating the presence of both gendered counterparts for berry production. The lush berry display is a magnet for avian visitors, offering a lively spectacle.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Shrub

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Perny's holly

Shiny dark green leaves with spiny margins and glossy surface, 1/2 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) long.

Bright red berries, 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter, tightly clustering, visually striking against foliage.

Dioecious nature requiring both male and female plants for berry production, small yellow flowers.

Slender green stems transitioning to reddish-green in winter, dense branchlets, smooth texture, 0.2-0.3 inches (5-7 mm) thick.

Trunk starts smooth and silver-gray, ages into intricately patterned bark with exfoliating, flakey patches.

Detailed Traits of Perny's holly

Leaf Features

The leaves of perny's holly are opposite, simple, and glossy dark green, measuring 1/2 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) in length. Each leaf features one to three spines on each side and has sharply toothed margins, lending them a distinctive, textured appearance. The glossy surface adds a smooth, reflective quality, making the leaves stand out. The compact size and spiny margins are key identification characteristics for this plant.

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Flower Features

The flowers of perny's holly are small and inconspicuous, measuring approximately 0.2 inches (5 mm) in diameter. They exhibit a yellowish hue and are known for their mild fragrance. The plant is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Each flower consists of multiple petals arranged in a symmetrical pattern. Although their scent is detectable, these flowers are not considered showy. They typically bloom in late spring to early summer.

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Stem Features

The stems of perny's holly are slender and green, transitioning to a reddish-green hue during the winter. They feature densely packed branchlets, which are a key identifying trait. The texture of the stems is relatively smooth to the touch, and they are moderately thick, measuring approximately 0.2-0.3 inches (5-7 mm) in diameter. The branching pattern is dense and bushy, making it an easily recognizable feature of perny's holly.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of perny's holly presents as vibrant red berries, each approximately 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter. They exhibit a tight clustering habit along the stem, which remains prominent from the fall throughout the winter season. The fruits' surface texture is smooth, and the rich coloration persists, providing a visually striking display against the backdrop of the plant's foliage. This striking red hue and persistent nature make them easily identifiable during the colder months.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Perny's holly and Their Similar Plants

Common holly vs. Perny's holly: What's The Difference?

Common holly (Ilex aquifolium) is an evergreen tree or shrub, recognized by the characteristic shape of its leaves and bright red berries. Its natural habitat is understories of oak and beech forests. Common holly is widely used in landscaping in temperate regions. Thick crown and prickly leaves make this plant excellent for hedges.

Japanese holly vs. Perny's holly: What's The Difference?

Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) is an evergreen shrub native to China, Japan, and Korea. Japanese holly is a flowering plant, and its flowers transition into berries during summer. This plant is popularly planted as an ornamental shrub and can be grown as a Bonsai tree.

Chinese holly vs. Perny's holly: What's The Difference?

Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) is an evergreen shrub native to China and Korea. The chinese holly is often grown ornamentally in gardens and is considered easy to grow and maintain. The chinese holly bears fruits that are thought to be superior to other holly species.

American holly vs. Perny's holly: What's The Difference?

Ilex opaca, commonly known as american holly, is a medium-sized evergreen tree, commonly found in southeastern areas of North America as an understory tree in humid forests. Its bright red fruits are poisonous to humans but are a very important source of food for numerous species of birds.

Yaupon vs. Perny's holly: What's The Difference?

Yaupon is a small tree or large shrub native to the southeastern United States. It is known for its small, evergreen leaves and its small, white flowers that bloom in the spring. The tree produces small, black berries that are favored by a variety of birds. In the garden, yaupon is often used as a hedge or border plant due to its dense growth habit and its ability to tolerate trimming. In addition to its practical uses in the garden, yaupon has a long history of use by Native American tribes, who used the plant for medicinal purposes and as a source of caffeine. The leaves of the plant can be brewed into a tea that is similar in flavor to black tea.

Common winterberry vs. Perny's holly: What's The Difference?

Common winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is a berry species commonly grown in eastern gardens within the United States. Common winterberry is valued for its ability to grow in temperate climates and the colors it provides as an ornamental plant. The common winterberry is also called Michigan holly.

Inkberry vs. Perny's holly: What's The Difference?

Inkberry (Ilex glabra) is a species native to the eastern United States. Inkberry is valued for its flavorful floral blossoms which are used as commercial ingredients in honey. Its leaves can be turned into a tea which is popular in East Asia.

Possumhaw vs. Perny's holly: What's The Difference?

Possumhaw is a deciduous shrub that can grow to tree-like dimensions in the right conditions. The leaves are a dark green and the fruits are red, shiny, and round with a diameter of 4 to 8 mm. Only female plants produce these berries.

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Key Facts About Perny's holly

Attributes of Perny's holly

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Shrub

Flower Size

2.5 cm

Flower Color

Yellow

Green

Gold

Fruit Color

Red

Burgundy

Stem Color

Green

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Perny's holly

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Perny's holly (Ilex pernyi)

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Distribution Map of Perny's holly

Perny's holly is native to woodlands in Eastern Asia. Its range naturally extends across subtropical and temperate zones within this region. Beyond its natural habitat, perny's holly has been introduced to various other locations for cultivation, owing to its adaptability to diverse climates. It thrives when translocated to environments that approximate its native woodland conditions, occurring in both private and botanical collections.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

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A Comprehensive Guide to Perny's holly How to Grow and Care for Perny's holly