‘Whoa Nellie’ is a sport from Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ and has a similar growth habit. It is a female cultivar selected for its golden new leaves that turn dark green at maturity. Like all hollies, it is a member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). ‘Whoa Nellie’ was named and introduced by nurseryman Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC. Like its parent, ‘Whoa Nellie’ prefers moist well-drained acid humus-rich soils. It needs full to partial sun, preferably with some protection from afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorch. It needs rich, acidic, well-drained soil but tolerates a range of soil types including heavy clay. It is best to avoid wet sites. Once established, it tolerates drought and heat better than many other hollies. This evergreen shrub can grow 12 to 25 feet tall and 8 to 20 feet wide in a pyramidal form. It grows more slowly than ‘Nellie R. Stevens’. The attractive new leaves show up well in the landscape, especially planted among dark green trees and shrubs. ‘Whoa Nellie’ produces a good crop of red fruits in the autumn especially if a male pollinizer is nearby. Use this plant as a specimen, accent or hedge. It would be suitable for for a winter garden or an English formal garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect pests that can be a problem include holly leafminer, scale, spider mites, and whiteflies. Disease problems include leaf spot and powdery mildew. Under alkaline soils, chlorosis can occur. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. More information on Ilex .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheIlex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens'Ilex x koehneana
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
New grow is yellow in color. Leaves may have 1-2 or no spines.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower detail
Small insignificant flowers appear in June-July
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Drupes are green, maturing to red in fall
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Fruits attract the birds
Attracts
Bees; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; English Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden