Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Tender Perennial
Origin
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Ilex opaca laxiflora,Ilex opaca opaca
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Number of Varieties
220
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal sand dunes, moist forests, Swamps
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-98-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-5
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
760.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm120.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval Spiny Leaves
Lance shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Drought Tolerant
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Butterflies
Allergy
Mild Allergen
Rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cold, epilepsy, Itching, Malaria, Pneumonia
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Used as a dyestuff, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in making tea
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Screening, Wind Break, Shade Trees
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
ILEX opaca
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Christmas Holly
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
American Holly
Shell Ginger
In German
American Holly
Shell Ginger
In French
American Holly
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
American Holly
Shell jengibre
In Greek
American Holly
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
American Holly
Shell Ginger
In Polish
American Holly
Shell Imbir
In Latin
American Holly
Crusta Ginger
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Celastrales
Zingiberales
Family
Aquifoliaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Ilex
Alpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
Alpinieae
Subfamily
-
Alpinioideae
Number of Species
2150
1
27800
👆🏻