Ilex Opaca (American Holly) #1

Crawforde said:
This looks cool.
I like Ilex, mine are just little sticks at this point but I have hope, and I hope that the leaves will reduce a little with ramification and age.
Click to expand...
Ilex grow FAST.

And are strong against.. well... stupid mistakes.. at least some of mine. 😂

Edit: Waiit... YOURS keep their leaves, right? ;)
 
Do the leaves eventually reduce on these when grown as bonsai? There’s a ton of these in all shapes and sizes popping up on my buddy’s farm. I never thought about these for bonsai. I may have to give one a try next year
 
19Mateo83 said:
Do the leaves eventually reduce on these when grown as bonsai? There’s a ton of these in all shapes and sizes popping up on my buddy’s farm. I never thought about these for bonsai. I may have to give one a try next year
Click to expand...

Not sure about leaf reduction.
 
Current. Looks to be throwing a second small flush. Will probably give it some harder cuts next year. Going to keep it in this pot for a few before repot is needed.

20220706_073423.jpg
 
Yeah, plenty of leaves still. Most of the deciduous are bare but there are some stragglers.
 
Looking good! Don't forget - American Holly is sexually dioecious. Only the females have berries.

Also... @HorseloverFat - most hollies are evergreen. ALL of my hollies (American, Yaupon, Chinese, Japanese) keep their leaves all winter. We have a large female American holly in our backyard that is the prettiest thing on our property in December/January. I've been looking for a nice winterberry (deciduous holly) for years now. With beautyberry and princess persimmon it is one of those amazing plants that bears fruit after it drops its leaves.
 
Bonsai Nut said:
Looking good! Don't forget - American Holly is sexually dioecious. Only the females have berries.

Also... @HorseloverFat - most hollies are evergreen. ALL of my hollies (American, Yaupon, Chinese, Japanese) keep their leaves all winter. We have a large female American holly in our backyard that is the prettiest thing on our property in December/January. I've been looking for a nice winterberry (deciduous holly) for years now. With beautyberry and princess persimmon it is one of those amazing plants that bears fruit after it drops its leaves.
Click to expand...
Hehe! You are totally right! I hadn't even thought of this!

County and Arbor just do not plant many up here.

But we have TONS of Verticillatas!

So when I THINK "Ilex"... I THINK "deciduous"

🤓
 
First flush starting. Will prune after. Expecting a second flush in Julyish. Want to try to get some back budding and ramification before wiring in autumn. Ideally, Id like a branch in the negative space to the right. Im going for a tall, stout, and oblong silhouette with lower branches that seem to droop.

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