Scientific Name | Ilex x attenuata 'Fosteri' |
Common Name | Foster Holly |
Hardiness Zone | 6 to 9 |
Size | 20 to 30' tall, to 10' wide |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Exposure | Full to partial sun |
Group | Tree - Evergreen |
Characteristics | Leaves alternate, simple, 1.5 to 3" long and half as wide, thin. One to four
spiny teeth on each side. Glossy, lustrous. Rich deep berries Autumn and Winter. Pyramidal form but much more columnar than Nellie Stevens Holly. Very susceptible to spittlebugs. |
Landscape Uses | Good specimen plant. Slender pyramidal form is excellent for tall hedges and screens. Needs pruning to keep a dense compact form. Works well as a neutral filller among more showy foliage. |
History | Hybrids between Ilex cassine amd Ilex opaca. Selected clones known as Foster #1, 2, 3, 4, 5 were made by E.E. Foster from Bessemer, AL. Foster #2 is the most widely found form, especially in the South and is similar to #3. #4 is a male. #1 and #5 were inferior forms of Ilex opaca. |