- Botanical name: Ilex x altaclerensis 'Golden King'
- Common name: Holly
- Family: Aquifoliaceae
- Plant Type: Shrub, Evergreen
White
Green
Variegation
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Dramatic foliage
- Fruits
Found over a century ago growing in a garden, Ilex ‘Golden King’ is just one of several popular varieties of a garden hybrid, Ilex x altaclerensis, bred partly from the common English holly, Ilex aquifolium. It’s very hardy and tolerates most soils, as well as seaside air and atmospheric pollution, and fruits well in sun or shade. Its handsome variegated leaves are flat and shapely, free from spines and ornamented with a prominent irregular golden yellow edge. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Grow Ilex ‘Golden King’ in moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Grow near a male plant for good crops of berries.
How to grow Ilex 'Golden King'
-
Plant size
6m height
3m spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle, back
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / chalky / alkaline / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do not Sow in March |
A
Do not Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do not Plant in May |
J
Do not Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do Plant in November |
D
Do Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Fruits | ||||||||||||
| Fruits |
J
Plant does fruit in January |
F
Plant does not fruit in February |
M
Plant does not fruit in March |
A
Plant does not fruit in April |
M
Plant does not fruit in May |
J
Plant does not fruit in June |
J
Plant does not fruit in July |
A
Plant does not fruit in August |
S
Plant does fruit in September |
O
Plant does fruit in October |
N
Plant does fruit in November |
D
Plant does fruit in December |
| Take cuttings | ||||||||||||
| Take cuttings |
J
Do not Take cuttings in January |
F
Do not Take cuttings in February |
M
Do not Take cuttings in March |
A
Do not Take cuttings in April |
M
Do not Take cuttings in May |
J
Do not Take cuttings in June |
J
Do not Take cuttings in July |
A
Do Take cuttings in August |
S
Do Take cuttings in September |
O
Do not Take cuttings in October |
N
Do not Take cuttings in November |
D
Do not Take cuttings in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do not Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
| Collect seeds | ||||||||||||
| Collect seeds |
J
Do Collect seeds in January |
F
Do not Collect seeds in February |
M
Do not Collect seeds in March |
A
Do not Collect seeds in April |
M
Do not Collect seeds in May |
J
Do not Collect seeds in June |
J
Do not Collect seeds in July |
A
Do not Collect seeds in August |
S
Do not Collect seeds in September |
O
Do not Collect seeds in October |
N
Do not Collect seeds in November |
D
Do Collect seeds in December |
Ilex 'Golden King' and wildlife
Ilex 'Golden King' is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It is a caterpilar food plant, has nectar/pollen rich flowers, provides shelter and habitat, has seeds for birds and makes a good wildlife hedge.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Ilex 'Golden King' poisonous?
Ilex 'Golden King' irritates skin. Its fruit is toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to Horses
Toxic to People
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Livestock
