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Ilex verticillata Magical Daydream

Ilex verticillata Magical Daydream 'Kolmcaroda'
Winterberry

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

This deciduous female bush which, in the presence of a male plant, has an abundance of clusters of vibrant orange berries and is particularly decorative from autumn until the end of winter. Its elegant dark green leaves are not prickly and take on a beautiful bronze hue in autumn before falling. A very cold-resistant North American shrub, it thrives in cool to moist soils with an acidic tendency (non-calcareous) and even clay, .
Flower size
5 mm
Height at maturity
2.20 m
Spread at maturity
2.20 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil, Damp soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

Ilex verticillata Magical Daydream is a female variety of whorled holly selected for its abundant bright orange berries on its bare branches. These are particularly decorative until the end of winter. Originating from Canada and the northeastern USA, it is a perfectly hardy holly whose leaves, unlike those of the common holly that we all know, are not prickly and fall in the autumn. Almost ornamental all year round, it will find its place in a natural garden or hedge, but also in very wet areas and on banks by watercourses. This female variety can be pollinated by a male plant ('Southern Gentleman') to create fantastic berries.

The holly belongs to the family of Aquifoliaceae. Ilex verticillata is a suckering and very common shrub, loving acidic soils and cool to wet areas.  It also adapts to open spaces like meadows or occasionally drier sandy soils. It is found in a large part of the North American territory. It is quite polymorphous, taking on the appearance of a large spreading bush measuring 5 m in height and 6 m in width, or the more modest habit of a narrow shrub not exceeding 2 m in height, depending on its habitat. This species is dioecious, meaning that there are separate male and female plants.

Magical Daydream 'Kolmcaroda' is a very floriferous female variety, with an upright and rounded habit, reaching about 2.20 m (7 ft 2 in) in all directions. The foliage, deciduous in winter, is composed of obovate or lanceolate leaves, tapering, measuring from 3 to 9 cm.  These have dentate margins. The spring shoots turn purple. Mature leaves are bright green and shiny on the upper side and lighter and hairy on the lower side. The autumn colours in shades of yellow-orange with bronze or coppery reflections are beautiful. The flowering takes place in spring, in the form of small white flowers not exceeding 5 mm in diameter. When pollination occurs, the female flowers transform into small clusters of small globular and shiny berries that are orange in colour. They are a delight for birds in winter.

Ilex verticillata 'Magical Daydream' will please amateur gardeners who appreciate sturdy, colourful, and unassuming shrubs. It has the advantage of bringing fabulous colours to the garden, especially in winter when its branches are covered with orange berries and seem almost in bloom. It is perfect in a mixed hedge, in the company of Elaeagnus Zempin, coyote willow (Salix exigua), Cotoneaster lacteus, deciduous spindle trees, or elderberries. It dislikes limestone, which causes its beautiful foliage to turn yellow, and prefers moist to wet soils. Hardy well beyond -15 °C, it particularly enjoys being positioned close to watercourses and waterlogged areas. Some gardeners prune it into the shape of a small fir tree; the sight of these small red trees in winter is quite fascinating. Plant it along with hawthorns, snowberries, pyracanthas with yellow or orange berries, and other evergreen hollies.

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Holly: planting, pruning and care
Family sheet
by Eva 12 min.
Holly: planting, pruning and care
Read article

Plant habit

Height at maturity 2.20 m
Spread at maturity 2.20 m
Habit irregular, bushy
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour insignificant
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Solitary
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Fruit colour orange

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green
Product reference • 179131

Planting and care

To plant the whorled holly Magical Daydream, add compost to your garden soil to slightly acidify it while enriching it. If your soil contains limestone or chalk, this holly bush may tend to develop chlorosis (the foliage gradually turns yellow around the leaf veins).  In this case, add additional leaf compost when planting and mulch with pine bark, which tends to acidify the soil over the years. Choose a semi-shaded location when planting in a warm climate. Follow watering instructions during the first 3 years (preferably with non-calcareous water), especially in summer and during extended periods of drought, to help the young plant establish itself. In the first few years, prune in spring by selecting the branches you want to keep. Step back to view your holly in order to determine the shape and arrangement of the short stems. Ilex can be attacked by holly leaf miners, white scale insects in spring, and mites and aphids in summer. Consider a preventative treatment early in the season.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Back of border
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil, Any non-calcareous soil, even sandy.

Care

Pruning instructions Pruning is not essential in hedge, but it can be useful for a specimen shrub or grown in a container. Prune the shrub before it starts regrowing.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

Planting & care advice

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