General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions, including clay soils and urban pollution. Prefers light, moist, acidic soils with good drainage. Chlorosis (leaf yellowing) may occur in alkaline soils. Japanese hollies are dioecious (separate male and female plants). 'Geisha' is an all-female cultivar which needs a male pollinator in order to produce fruit. May not be reliably winter hardy throughout USDA Zone 5 where it should be grown in a protected location with a winter mulch.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
'Geisha' is a dwarf, evergreen Japanese holly cultivar which is noted for producing yellow berries in fall as opposed to the more usual purple to red. It grows somewhat slowly in a rounded mound to 3-4' tall. Features elliptic to obovate, glossy green convex leaves (typically 1/2 to 1 1/4" long). Japanese holly foliage somewhat resembles boxwoods more than hollies. Tiny, greenish-white flowers appear along the stems in the leaf axils in late spring. If pollinated, the flowers give way to yellow, berry-like drupes (1/4" diameter) in fall. Flowers and fruit are inconspicuous.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Spider mites can be troublesome. Nematodes are a problem in the South.
Uses:
Small hedge. Foundation plant. Shrub border. Rock garden.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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