HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOLUME 28 NUMBER 2 2010

Holly Arboreta 2009 Annual Reports ...... 3 Arboretum Bokrijk ...... 3 Arboretum des Près des Culands Conservatoire National D’Ilex ...... 4 Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest ...... 5 Blue Ridge Community College ...... 6 Callaway Gardens ...... 6 Chollipo Arboretum ...... 7 Clark-Landsbaum Deming Park Holly Arboretum ...... 9 The Dawes Arboretum ...... 10 Denver Botanic Gardens ...... 13 Ebersole Holly Collection ...... 13 Missouri Botanical Gardens ...... 15 The Morris Arboretum ...... 15 Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park ...... 16 The Polly Hill Arboretum ...... 18 The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College ...... 19 Tyler Arboretum ...... 21 University of Tennessee Arboretum ...... 23 U.S. National Arboretum ...... 25 Washington Park Arboretum ...... 26 International Ilex Cultivar Registrations ...... 27 Michael R. Pontti Treasurer’s Report, March 31, 2010 ...... 34 Dennis Superczynski Holly Society Journal Volume 28 - 2010 Index ...... 35 HSA Annual Meeting Sites ...... 36

Ilex (cornuta × pernyi) ‘Sais’ with Wirt Thompson. About 1994, he discovered, selected and introduced ‘Sais’ as a mutation (sport) at his Upper Bank Nursery in Media, Pennsylvania. Photo by Andrew Bun- ting. HOLLY ARBORETA 2009 ANNUAL REPORTS

Holly Society Official Holly Arboreta and Experimental Test Centers are public or semipublic institutions that educate plant lovers in the use of holly in the landscape and comply with HSA guidelines. These institu- tions maintain properly labeled holly collections and accurate accession records that include valid name, source, date and size (or age) when re- ceived, location, and other relevant information. Official Arboreta and Test Centers must submit annual reports to the Society in order to stay active. These reports include pertinent weather data, additions or dele- tions to the collection, notes on holly performance, and general informa- tion on holly collections and projects involving them. Test Centers must also report the status of ongoing research involving holly. Following are the Official Holly Arboreta and Experimental Test Center reports for 2009. Inventory lists for some arboreta may be found on the HSA web- site, http://www.hollysocam.org.

ARBORETUM BOKRIJK 3600 Genk (Limburg) Belgium (Hardiness Zone 7b) As mentioned last year, we had a very severe, cold winter. It began the last week of December 2008, and the coldest days lasted until 10 January 2009. The lowest temperature was –21.5 °C (–6.7 °F). It was the most severe winter in our region since 1986. Needless to say, we had a lot of damage. We lost all our Ilex mitis from South Africa. They were killed to the ground and did not resprout. Also, our I. kingiana, a group of eighteen plants more than four meters high, were killed, as were a group of thirty I. canariensis. All the above mentioned species were of wild collected origin. Our I. cornuta cultivars had a lot of damage, but most of them re- covered. I. purpurea lost most of their leaves, but by the end of the sea- son they had new leaves and looked quite healthy. Smaller plants of I. integra were killed, especially those of Japanese origin. Our larger plants of I. integra (of Korean origin), planted below a cover of sixty year old Pinus sylvestris, suffered only minor leaf damage. We also lost I. formo- sana and all our cultivars of I. vomitoria. The hardiest form of the I. vomitoria that we have is ‘Virginia Dare’, which was severely damaged but not killed to the ground. The winter was too severe for Ilex (Sp 98FAB18), collected by Frank Bell in Yunnan China.

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 3 We have no new additions. We have a lot of work to do with all the damaged plants, and it was not only the hollies but most of our Camellia collection was also severely damaged. We thought that our climate was changing to a more favorable, sub- tropical one, but that will be in the future, if we believe the climate watchers of today! After a very cold winter we had a very dry summer, so that was another problem. I can say that the year 2009 was a horrible year for the gardener. We had a surprise, but, unfortunately, not in the Ilex world: our Mag- nolia conifera var. chingii (the former Manglietia) had no damage at all. Jef Van Meulder, Curator, Plant Collections

ARBORETUM DES PRÈS DES CULANDS CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL D’ILEX La Nivelle- 45130 Meung Sur Loire, France (Hardiness Zone7) February 2009 was cold, with temperatures ranging from –10 °C (14 °F) to –15 ºC (5 ºF). Spring was mild, and summer was dry, but became hu- mid toward the end. Autumn was mild, which permitted a good fruit set in the hollies. It was the first year that we had so much fruit on these shrubs and trees. December was cold and snowy, reaching –10 ºC (14 ºF). We did not acquire any new hollies in 2009. Ilex decidua ‘Winter Red’ had very good growth this year, with beautiful shoots of 20 to 30 cm (7.8 to 11.7 inches) and good fruit pro- duction. The Arboretum has an area of 2 hectares (4.8 acres) open for visitors. It is maintained naturally without chemical treatment or chemical nutri- ents, to respect nature. We amend it yearly with a variety of leafy com- post or various long-lasting barks that we apply in March. We mulch the soil regularly to maintain moisture, inhibit weeds and to add humus. As we cannot attend the Annual Meeting each year, we would be happy to receive new Ilex (we would assume the expense), or to be in- formed of cutting producers who could trade with France.

4 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 Following is the performance of some of the hollies that we have in the Arboretum : I. crenata ‘Sky Pencil’: Grows very slowly I. × koehneana ‘Lassie’: Good growth I. × koehneana ‘Ajax’: Very fruitful and holds fruit a long time I. × attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’: Very appealing with colored foliage Pierre Paris, Conservateur

BERNHEIM ARBORETUM AND RESEARCH FOREST Clermont, KY (USDA Hardiness Zone 6a) Our region’s roller coaster weather has yet again preempted our intended plans for the 2009 growing season. Kentucky, as well as many other states, experienced the worst ice storm in its history. Although Bern- heim’s gates are typically open 363 days of the year, the late January storm kept them closed for nearly a week, giving the staff an opportunity to remove hazards before visitors returned. Preliminary cleanup of the arboretum lasted well through May, but extensive corrective pruning will be ongoing for many years. The remainder of the year was mild, with over 50 inches (1.27 m) of rainfall and summer temperatures averaging around 85 °F (29.4 °C). Fruit production on most of the hollies was moderate, possibly due to extended periods of moisture, but it made for a colorful fall enjoyed by visitors and staff. The Ilex opaca collection did not suffer major damage from the ice; however there were many broken tops and leaders that are still being removed. Most of the breaks have led to suckering around the damaged areas, and it will be challenging to retrain these specimens to a central leader while letting them grow as naturally as possible. We were not as fortunate with most of our I. × meserveae collection, which was crushed by ice-laden Virginia pines. These hollies were very old and fragile. Most were removed due to extensive damage. This col- lection also contained many of the original holly collection plantings. There were many deaccessions for the year including: I. glabra ‘Ni- gra’ and ‘Woodlander’s Compact’; I. × meserveae ‘Mesdob’ China Boy®, ‘Mesog’ China Girl® (2), ‘Mesid’ Blue Maid® (2), ‘Mesgolg’ Golden Girl™ (2), ‘Mesan’ Blue Stallion®, ‘Honey Maid’, ‘Blue Boy’, ‘Blue Girl’ (3), Blue Prince™ (2), Blue Princess™ (2), and Blue Angel™ (4); and I. × aquipernyi ‘San Jose’ (2).

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 5 New accessions for the year included: I. verticillata ‘Maryland Beauty’ (5), ‘Southern Gentleman’ (5), and ‘Red Sprite’; I. ‘Conin’ Rob- in™; and I. ‘Magland’ Oakland™. There are many opportunities throughout the year to enjoy Bern- heim’s hollies and other collections. This year we offered guided tours of the hollies, wreath making classes, and twilight walks through the mean- dering paths during the holiday season. As interest and demand for Ilex grows, Bernheim will continue to evaluate and disseminate interesting and superior cultivars while furthering education, awareness, and care of this genus. Be sure to check our website http://www.bernheim.org for upcoming events and other information. Eric Garris, Curator, Hubbuch Holly Collection

BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Flat Rock, NC (USDA Hardiness Zone 7) We experienced a wetter than normal year in 2009, and we have been getting a lot of snow and ice. I am sure that there will be a lot of cleanup to do when we get a break in the weather. We have not been able to as- sess any damage to the hollies yet. We plan to add some new hollies this season and include them in our next report. We had many berries in 2009, as we normally do. We had no special projects this season. David Tabor, BRCC Grounds Supervisor

CALLAWAY GARDENS Pine Mountain, GA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7b) The berry display throughout the Holly Collection was spectacular in 2009. We recorded a whopping 71.87 inches (1.8 m) of rainfall, more than 19 inches (48.3 cm) over our annual average of 52 inches (1.3 m). Cooler than average temperatures helped extend the display well into the late winter and early spring months. There has been little change to our Holly Collection this year. Eng- lish holly continues to struggle in our climate, and we removed what was left of two Ilex opaca ‘Wieman’s Favorite’. Renovations required that we

6 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 remove a mass of I. × attenuata ‘Hume No. 2’, but we have other, larger specimens around the Garden. Additions included large plantings of I. cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’, and I. serrata × I. verticillata ‘Sparkleberry’. In 1972, we added I. opaca ‘Satyr Hill’ (2003 Holly of the Year) to our collection. Although it is in an area of the Garden that is no longer accessible to the public, it is thriving and has performed well for us. Kathy Crye, Horticulture Department

CHOLLIPO ARBORETUM Republic of Korea (Zone 7-8) The board of directors of Chollipo Arboretum named Mr.Yee Bosik, for- mer minister of the Korean Forest Service, as the new director of the Chollipo Arboretum on January 1, 2009. The board of directors also de- cided that our Arboretum would be open to the public beginning March 1, 2009. The total number of visitors to the Arboretum in 2009 was about 167,000. The mean air temperature was 13.6 °C (56 °F), the maximum tem- perature was 35 °C (95 °F) on August 9. The minimum temperature was –9 ºC (16 °F) on January 29 and December 29. The precipitation was 837.5 mm (33 inches). Mean humidity was 59.2%, the maximum humid- ity was 76% on the August 12, and the minimum was 44% on March 12 and April 19. In 2009 the Arboretum recorded the following new seeds and plants, all from the Novy Dvur Arboretum, Czech Republic: Ilex × meserveae ‘Blue Stallion’ I. × meserveae ‘Blue Eagle’

We relocated 21 hollies: I. opaca ‘Jersey Princess’ I. glabra I. g. ‘Gold Mine’ I. ‘Blue Blooded Babe’ I. crenata ‘Brighter Shines’ I. × altaclerensis ‘Moorei’

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 7 Cuttings were taken for propagation from the following: Ilex ‘Venus’ I. crenata ‘Golden Gem’ I. (cornuta × pernyi) I. latifolia ‘Variegata’ ‘Betty’s Beau’ I. × altaclerensis Ilex aquifolium ‘Ingramii’ I. × altaclerensis ‘Lawsoniana’ I. a. ‘Proud Mary’ I. × altaclerensis ‘Purple Shaft’ I. a. ‘Rubricaulis Aurea’ I. × aquipernyi ‘San Jose’ I. a. ‘Gold Burst’ I. × meserveae Blue Prince™ I. opaca ‘Glen Ellen’ I. × wandoensis

We relocated six hollies that were planted too densely. At this time they are growing very well and looking good. We have taken cuttings of eight hybrids and fifty-five different cultivars for propagation. The following hollies died: I. cornuta I. aquifolium ‘Myrtifolia’ I. opaca ‘Bear Crossing’ I. dimorphophylla The following hollies looked especially nice in 2009: Ilex cornuta I. × koehneana ‘Chestnut Leaf’ I. c. ‘Dwarf Burford’ I. (cornuta × aquifolium) I. c. ‘Pyonsan Lyre’ ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ I. decidua I. × wandoensis I. d. ‘Red Cascade’ I. verticillata ‘Winter Red’ I. Purpurea I. × wandoensis ‘Min Pyong- gal’ Many hollies produced superb fruits last year. Of course, many birds enjoyed the fruits in the Arboretum, too. Chang-ho Chio

8 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 CLARK-LANDSBAUM DEMING PARK HOLLY ARBORETUM Terre Haute, Indiana (USDA Hardiness Zone 5b) The weather in 2009 was cooler than normal, and there were snow show- ers on April 6. It was a very wet year. We had 53.47 inches (1.4 m) of precipitation, and normal is 41.36 inches (1.1 m). July was 5 °F (2.8 ºC) below normal and the second coldest on record. August was colder than normal and very dry. The temperature was below normal five of the last six months. The hollies that died and were removed from the Arboretum were three specimens of Ilex × meserveae ‘Honey Maid’, which were dug up from a bed in the winter and failed to survive transplanting in the spring. These plants had been doing very well ever since they were planted in 1998. Ilex [(× aquipernyi) × (integra × pernyi ‘Accent’)] ‘Rock Garden’, I. × koehneana ‘Loch Raven’, I. cornuta CH109, I. opaca ‘Georgana’, I. crenata ‘Compacta’, and an I. glabra male died and were also removed. Hollies added to the Arboretum include: I. opaca ‘Indiana State’, ‘Arden’, ‘Emily’, and ‘Virginia West’, and I. ‘Rock Garden’. Drainage on the hillside at the Arboretum has been so poor that a number of hollies were adversely affected and many died. A year ago drainage tile was installed at the bottom of the hill. This year it was dis- covered that years ago the lower area below the hill was swampy and had been filled up with rubble, including concrete steps, broken concrete with rebar, asphalt paving, and other debris. This was removed and backfilled with soil. Last summer additional drainage tiles were installed above this area and connected to the lower tiles. This should correct the drainage problem. However, some hollies had to be moved since the bed was de- stroyed. Several Japanese hollies and other smaller hollies replaced the ones that were lost. Over fifty members and guests of the Great Rivers Chapter of the Holly Society of America met here in the fall. They were surprised that the Red Hollies, which were planted in 2005, were doing so well. Addi- tional plants are being sent to us so we can test their performance in this hardiness zone. Since our Arboretum is in a public city park, it is funded and main- tained by Friends of the Arboretum. We are able to support the Arbore- tum with a spring fundraiser, selling holly wreaths for the holidays, and through private donations. Some hollies in the Arboretum are being planted or maintained as memorial gifts.

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 9 Because the Arboretum’s space is somewhat limited, we have begun planting hollies throughout the community. From 2003 through 2009, over one hundred hollies have been planted at the County Fairgrounds, City Hall, the County Court House, two colleges, public schools, an en- trance to a city boulevard, other parks, and major roads into the city. We are actively speaking to service clubs, churches, schools and other groups about the arboretum and holly. Tours of the arboretum for interested groups are given when requested. Educational classes and tours are given to students from horticulture classes at IVY Tech Com- munity College and to Master Gardener trainees. On Arbor Day, Indiana State University was recognized as only the second Tree Campus in Indi- ana. At the dedication ceremony, an Ilex opaca ‘Indiana State’, named for the University, was planted on the campus. Several “Holly of the Year” plants are growing in the Arboretum. Two I. opaca ‘Satyr Hill’ were planted in 1998 and 1999. Even though they were planted in a wet location, they are surviving. With the drainage project complete, we should see growth improvement with these hollies. Four I. crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ were added from 1998 to 2001. One was hit by a lawnmower and died, but the others look good. Ilex × koehneana ‘Lassie’ was planted in 2003. It has grown well and set berries for the first time this year. An I. × attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’, planted in 1996, was protected every winter for several years, but now, without winter shelter, it dies back more every year. An I. aquifolium ‘Lewis’ (2007) has done well and is being grown in a protected area until it is large enough to be transplanted into a public park. ‘Lewis’ is now about 40 inches (1 m) tall. Robert Artis, Friends of the Arboretum

THE DAWES ARBORETUM Newark, Ohio (USDA Hardiness Zone 5b) Climate Data and Summary The American holly (Ilex opaca) is, without a doubt, one of the most du- rable broadleaf evergreens capable of withstanding frigid, below 0 °F (–17.7 °C) temperatures without suffering significant winter damage. It is an exceptionally drought tolerant species, with additional benefit of being highly resistant to deer browse. The Dawes Arboretum is fortunate in being one of the most northern of the Holly Society’s (HSA) official ex-

10 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 perimental test gardens. Consequently, we have had the unique opportu- nity to evaluate the hardiness of not only I. opaca, the main constituent of our collection, but also the hardiness of other evergreen hollies, most notably Japanese holly (I. crenata). Consistent with the HSA’s overall goal, to promote the widespread appeal of hollies in American gardens, we hope that our long-standing evaluations will motivate other northern gardens to include evergreen hollies in their collections. Thus, over time, our ef forts may help to extend the range and popularity of evergreen hollies. Temperatures and precipitation totals for 2009 in central Ohio were about normal with mean temperature of 51.8 ºF (11 °C) and total precipi- tation measuring 34.9 inches (88.6 cm). Rainfall during the summer months was fairly even averaging 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) per month. No- vember was the driest month with just less than one inch (.98 inches [2.5 cm]) reported. Our summer temperatures were slightly cooler than nor- mal, with the warmest month being August (70.1º F [21.2 °C] mean tem- perature) and no 90 ºF (32.2 °C) days reported. This belies the dynamic nature of our Midwestern climate, especially regarding winter extremes. In early January we reported a high temperature of almost 50 ºF (49.2 ºC), but thirteen days later the mercury dipped to an unmerciful –20 ºF (–28.9 °C). The desiccating effects of high winds cannot be overlooked, with sustained winds of over 30 mph (13.4 m/s) on January 7 and 51 mph (22.8 m/s) on February 11. The combination of below zero (–17.8 °C) temperatures, high winds and frozen soils always represents a severe challenge to broadleaf evergreens, which often are incapable of replacing moisture lost through transpiration. The resulting leaf burn and subse- quent defoliation is particularly damaging to the establishment of young evergreen trees or shrubs.

Collections Data and Summary Seven younger specimens of American holly (I. opaca) succumbed over last winter: ‘Big Mack’, ‘Cape Cod Dwarf’, ‘Cave Hill No. 2’, ‘Cavhilor’, ‘Jersey Golden’, ‘St. Mary’ and ‘Winter Sun’. Two speci- mens, ‘Cavhilor’ and ‘St. Mary’, were represented by only one specimen and are consequently lost to our collections. It should be noted that two of these seven had been growing poorly because of the suspected allelo- pathic effects of adjacent walnut trees. Indeed, I have observed more than once the deleterious effect of walnuts upon the growth of American holly. We also removed eight specimens of Japanese holly (I. crenata) that were almost one hundred percent defoliated and killed back to the VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 11 ground: ‘Black Beauty’ (2), ‘Howard’, ‘Ivory Tower’, ‘Soft Touch’, ‘Steed’s Upright’ and an unnamed pyramidal selection (2). All these cul- tivars, except for I. crenata ‘Soft Touch’, were duplicated and are still represented on Holly Hill. The death of these I. crenata cultivars indi- cates the marginal status of this species for central Ohio and reinforces the need for ongoing evaluation and selection of hardy clones. It is note- worthy that The Dawes Arboretum’s introduction of I. crenata ‘Mistress’ exhibited no winter damage. Due to factors other than winter injury, additional removals included two common winterberries, I. verticillata ‘Shaver’ and ‘Shortcake’, and two specimens of the inkberry, I. glabra ‘Chamzin’ Nordic®. The sole representatives of two interspecific hybrids, I. ‘Carolina Sentinel’ and I. ‘Mary Nell’, were lost outright because of winter injury. Ilex [(cornuta × pernyi) ‘Red Delight’ × latifolia], ‘Mary Nell’, an interspecific cross be- tween the Chinese holly I. cornuta, Perny holly I. pernyi and lusterleaf holly I. latifolia, had shown strong and sustained growth since it was accessioned and planted in the fall of 2000. Its rapid demise and death again reminds us that these tender interspecific hybrid hollies will likely never have widespread use in central Ohio and are adaptable at best to the sanctuaries of sheltered microclimates. We added no additional hollies to our collection in 2009 but a num- ber of large and attractive specimens remain in the Arboretum’s nursery and will likely find a home in the collections soon. Although this report has a certain negativity affixed to it, much valuable evidence can be gleaned and gained through the losses we endured in 2009. Our holly collection continues to improve and mature providing much enjoyment to those passing through it. Presently our collection totals 364 taxa with an additional 56 taxa in the nursery. The youngest of our American holly plantings lie adjacent to the oak collection on one of the Arboretum’s highest and most exposed areas. Their overall performance has been nothing short of outstanding. It seems that each year a specimen or two captures my attention for the first time. The male cultivar, I. opaca ‘David’, comes to mind. It is an exceptionally dense small tree, with dark, lustrous leaves that are curled back, almost cucullate in nature. Some, on the other hand, capture my attention yearly and here I refer to a Dawes Arboretum favorite, Ilex × attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’, whose har- diness and vigor has long been a most welcome surprise. Richard A. Larson, Nursery Manager

12 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS Denver, CO (USDA Hardiness Zone 5) The summer of 2009 was mild in Denver, with only a few days exceed- ing 90 °F (32.2 °C) between May and September. It was also a wet year. Denver Botanic Gardens received 21.93 inches (55.7 cm) of precipitation in 2009 compared to 13.42 inches (34.1 cm) in 2008. Snowfall was also greater in 2009 with 70.6 inches (1.8 m) recorded, compared to 33.15 inches (55.7 cm) in 2008. Most of the precipitation was received from April to July. There are no changes to report in Denver Botanic Gardens’ Ilex col- lection. Ilex × meserveae cultivars did well in the cool moist weather of 2009. Construction continued at Denver Botanic Gardens. A new parking structure, visitor center, and welcome garden were completed and many other gardens underwent construction in 2009. A new children’s garden, Japanese bonsai garden, and greenhouse complex with orangery are cur- rently in the planning or construction phase. Construction has affected the Ilex collection slightly in the last two years and will continue to change the size and scope of the collection as some garden areas are be- ing replaced with new themes. Cindy Newlander, Manager of Plant Records

EBERSOLE HOLLY COLLECTION Sandhills Horticultural Gardens Pinehurst, NC (USDA Hardiness Zone 7b) The year 2009 was a good year for our holly collection, except for the English holly collection (Ilex aquifolium). We continue to see a steady decline within this species. Listed below are the hollies that we have re- moved from the collection: I. aquifolium ‘Longspra’ I. × meserveae ‘Blue Boy’ I. × meserveae Blue Stallion® I. × meserveae Blue Prince™ I. aquifolium ‘Ferox Argentea’ I. aquifolium ‘Silver Milkmaid’ I. × altaclerensis ‘Father Charles’ I. aquifolium ‘Dude’

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 13 Other hollies that we lost this year: I. crenata ‘Tiny’ I. c. ‘Stokes’ I. c. ‘Compacta’ I. verticillata ‘Red Sprite’ I. opaca ‘Delia’ We are observing the decline of more Japanese hollies (I. crenata) as well. After battling root rot on the I. crenata ‘compacta’ hollies, which line the drive into our Visitors Center, we decided to remove all of them. We are even experiencing some loss of the I. crenata ‘Chesapeake’ hol- lies in the Sir Walter Raleigh Garden as well. Even though we seem to be losing the battle on the English hollies, we do not intend to give up. We have renewed hope with how well the grafted English hollies are doing, and we are working with Hefner’s Nursery in Conover, NC, to save the ones we still have. The nursery is helping us by grafting cuttings onto I. (cornuta × aquifolium) ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ understock, and it has been very successful. We will keep you posted on the outcome. The weather in 2009 was relatively uneventful, with the most affect on the berry set on the American hollies (I. opaca). In December we had several days of unusually cold weather that seems to have caused the ripe berries to freeze and then fall off. Our American hollies are struggling under some fairly dense pine canopy and are thinning out. Otherwise, they are thriving and doing well. One of the stars is I.opaca ‘Lady Alice’, which seems to have a very nice shape despite the dense shade. Our very own I. opaca ‘Clarendon Spreading’ always outperforms many other plants. This plant is absolutely huge and continues to thrive in the garden. The Chinese holly collection continues to do very well for us here in the Sandhills. Our only problem is keeping them under control with pruning. The berry set is excellent and is still persistent, even with the onslaught of bird species that frequent the collection. In 2010 we plan to work on the deciduous holly collection. This col- lection sits adjacent to a wetland area that is very overgrown. We have already worked on cutting back some of the growth that is inching its way towards this collection, and now we plan to work on cutting back some of the specimens to a more controllable size. As indicated above, we are losing some of our Japanese hollies to a root rot of some kind. Otherwise, they are doing fairly well. We have

14 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 worked this year on pruning out deadwood and now plan to work on the fact that they appear nutrient stressed. Overall, besides the loss of our English hollies, the Ebersole Holly Collection is doing well and we look forward to doing more work on the hollies in 2010. Johanna Westmen

MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDENS St. Louis, Missouri (USDA Hardiness Zone 6b) The last two years have been very wet with rainfall more than 10 inches (25.4 cm) above average. Temperatures have been normal with no late freezes. Holly fruit set was very good, but birds stripped off the fruit very early in the fall. No new hollies were added to our collection. Walter Behrendt, Senior Horticulturist

THE MORRIS ARBORETUM Philadelphia, PA (Hardiness Zone 6) The winter of 2009 was relatively normal, although February was milder than usual. The most outstanding weather of 2009 was characterized by an extremely wet year, with 36.5 inches (92.71 cm) of rain from April through October compared with a normal average of 25.5 (64.7 cm) for this period. In August alone we received over 10 inches (25.4 cm) of rain. These conditions did not affect the health of our holly collection. As always, we were impressed by the resiliency of our hollies. As of December 31, 2008, we have 167 taxa of Ilex planted in our collection. In 2009, we planted 39 plants of 13 taxa, 7 of which were new (*) to our collection: I. aquifolium ‘Angustifolia’ * I. macropoda I. crenata I. purpurea * I. c. ‘Snowflake’ * I. verticillata ‘Jim Dandy’ I. glabra ‘Densa’ I. v. (male) * I. g. ‘Nigra’ * I. v. ‘Southern Gentleman’ I. integra * I. v. ‘Winter Red’ I. leucoclada *

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 15 We lost 16 plants from our collection (7 taxa, 1 taxon lost (**) from the collection): I. × altaclerensis I. × koehneana ‘Hohman’ I. opaca I. o. ‘Morris Arboretum’ I. shennongjiaensis ** I. verticillata I. yunnanensis

Several hollies are noteworthy this year because of fruit-set and/or foliage quality, their rarity, or because of cold-hardiness. These include:

I. ‘Dapat’ Miss Patricia™ highly lustrous foliage I. ‘Doctor Kassab’ heavy fruit set I. × koehneana ‘Lassie’ denser branching structure than other cultivars on site I. ‘Lydia Morris’ dark but still bright fruit with heavy fruit set I. opaca ‘Fay‘ large and heavy fruit set I. o. ‘Jersey Princess’ excellent dark green foliage; heavy fruit set I. o. ‘Big Red’ excellent heavy fruit set I. ‘Rutzan’ Red Beauty® dense shape and slow growth; good for landscape use Anthony Aiello, Curator and Director of Horticulture and Elinor I. Goff, Plant Recorder

PLANTING FIELDS ARBORETUM STATE HISTORIC PARK Oyster Bay, NY (USDA Hardiness Zone 7a) The temperatures throughout 2009 were normal. Our rainfall was slightly above average, with 55 inches (1.4 m), and snowfall was also slightly above average, with 28 inches (71 cm).

16 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 Since our last report we have added the following hollies to our col- lection: I. ‘Apollo’ I. p. ‘Variegata’ I. crenata ‘Beehive’ (5) I. ‘Mary Nell’ (13) I. c. ‘Sky Pencil’ (3) I. verticillata ‘Raritan Chief’ I. opaca ‘Jersey Knight’ I. v. ‘Red Sprite’ (8) I. o. ‘Jersey Princess’ I. v. ‘Sunsplash’ I. pedunculosa (female) I. v. ‘Winter Red’ (2)

Deletions: I. aquifolium ‘Alaska’ I. a. ‘ciliata major’ I. opaca ‘Farage‘ I. pedunculosa (male) I. p. (female) I. verticillata ‘Red Sprite’

In general, our hollies had an above average fruit set and reacted nicely to the heavy pruning which we performed two years ago. Ilex verticillata ‘Sunsplash’ has been a good addition to our garden, providing a beautiful display of yellow leaves. It could develop into a focal point in the garden. Ilex ‘Hefcup’ Buttercup™ also provides a fan- tastic display of yellow leaves, even in winter. We planted I. ‘Mary Nell’ around the Manor House parking lot to provide privacy. Iron was injected into the bark of I. pedunculosa in the early spring. These plants greened up nicely.

Holly of the Year: Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’: We have twenty plants and they appear to be growing well on Long Island. Ilex verticillata ‘Maryland Beauty’: We have four plants, which are too new to determine how well they will perform on Long Island. Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’: We have twenty-five plants, which are growing nicely; some fruit is still on the plants, even though the birds foraged earlier in the season. Peter C. Atkins, Assistant Director

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 17 THE POLLY HILL ARBORETUM West Tisbury, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts (USDA Hardiness Zone 7a) As of the writing of this report in early 2010, the living collection at the Polly Hill Arboretum includes 103 Ilex taxa represented by 203 individ- ual plants. The observations and data on which this report is based were collected by Thomas E. Clark, Collections & Grounds Manager, and Nancy Weaver, Volunteer Coordinator & Plant Recorder. The weather during 2009 can be characterized as having been gener- ally warmer and wetter than average. The lowest temperature recorded was 4 °F (-15.6 °C) on January 16 and 17, and the highest temperature recorded was 89 °F (31.7 °C) on August 12. Total precipitation was 7.86 inches (19.96 cm) above the annual average of 45.82 inches (116.38 cm). The summer months (June, July, August) were distinctly wetter than av- erage. This additional rainfall helped to support good growth and fruit development, particularly in July, which is typically the driest month of the year. Table 1 details the 2009 weather.

Table 1. Temperature and precipitation summaries for 20091 Monthly Departure Monthly Departure Month mean temperature from norm precipitation from norm January 35.1 °F (1.7 °C) –2.5 °F (-1.39 °C) 5.08” (12.90 cm) 1.41” (3.58 cm) February 34.1 °F (1.2 °C) 4.1 °F (2.28 °C) 1.90” (4.83 cm) –2.22” (-5.64 cm) March 38.5 °F (3.6 °C) 2.0 °F (1.11 °C) 4.29” (10.90 cm) 0.26” (0.66 cm) April 49.1 °F (9.5 °C) 4.3 °F (2.39 °C) 4.72” (11.99 cm) 0.44” (1.12 cm) May 56.8 °F (13.8 °C) 2.9 °F (1.61 °C) 3.32” (8.43 cm) –0.93” (-2.36 cm) June 62.0 °F(16.7 °C) –1.2 °F (-0.66 °C) 3.67” (9.32 cm) 1.02” (2.59 cm) July 69.5 °F (20.8 °C) 0.0 °F (0.0 °C) 4.82” (12.24 cm) 2.63” (6.68 cm) August 73.4 °F (23.0 °C) 4.7 °F (2.61 °C) 6.58” (16.71 cm) 2.15” (5.46 cm) September 64.0 °F (17.8 °C) 1.0 °F (0.56 °C) 3.53” (8.97 cm) –0.03” (-0.08 cm) October 53.4 °F (11.9 °C) –0.9 °F (-0.5 °C) 7.77” (19.74 cm) 4.38” (11.13 cm) November 50.6 °F (10.3 °C) 6.0 °F (3.33 °C) 1.93” (4.90 cm) –2.47” (-6.27 cm) December 35.2 °F (1.8 °C) 1.0 °F (0.56 °C) 6.07” (15.42 cm) 1.66” (4.22 cm)

2009 Total 53.68” (136.35 cm) 7.86” (19.96 cm) 1Weather data was recorded by Mark Alan Lovewell in Edgartown, Massachusetts

Plants of five new taxa of Ilex were added to the collection during 2009; all derived from the HSA annual meeting held on Martha’s Vineyard. The new taxa are I. A51517, I. ‘Hugger’, I. × attenuata ‘Bronze Beauty’, I. × attenuata ‘Longwood Gold’ and I. serrata ‘Long- wood Firefall’. Only one holly was removed from the collection in 2009,

18 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 I. opaca ‘Clarissa’, which died over the winter of 2008–2009, after hav- ing been planted in spring 2008. Our hollies performed generally quite well in 2009. Overall, clones of I. opaca were highly rated and fruit set on most of these was moder- ately heavy to heavy. Particularly fine cultivars included ‘Canary’, ‘Mar- tha’s Vineyard’, ‘Villanova’, ‘Satyr Hill’ and the forma xanthocarpa. Ilex ‘Pernella’ and I. aquifolium ‘Evangeline’ and ‘NYBG No. 2’ performed exceptionally well in 2009. Damage caused by holly berry midge (As- phondylia ilicicola) was observed on some selections of Ilex opaca, in- cluding ‘Barnard Luce’, ‘Miss Helen’ and ‘Greenhill’. In a few cases, overall showiness of the fruit display was significantly and negatively affected. A leaf spot disease and telltale tracks of a species of leaf miner were noted on I. opaca, but neither was found with regularity. There are currently no official holly related research projects under- way at Polly Hill Arboretum. In October 2009 the Arboretum was honored to welcome attendees of the 2009 HSA Annual Meeting to the Arboretum for an afternoon clambake and tour of the holly collection and grounds. During this tour several members expressed interest in an unnamed clone of Ilex opaca with particularly large fruit. The Arboretum is propagating this clone and hopes to distribute it to willing collaborators for further evaluation. Thomas E. Clark, Collections & Grounds Manager

THE JAMES FRORER HOLLY COLLECTION OF THE SCOTT ARBORETUM OF SWARTHMORE COLLEGE Swarthmore, Pennsylvania (USDA Hardiness Zone 6b) The James Frorer Holly Collection was established in 1974, and is lo- cated in the southwestern section of the Swarthmore College. The collec- tion is named for James R. Frorer, notable benefactor and alumnus of the Swarthmore College class of 1915. The four hundred fifty holly speci- mens that he donated to The Scott Arboretum were formerly located at his Delaware property and were transplanted to establish the initial col- lection. The collection is recognized by the Holly Society of America as a national collection, and is one of three holdings located at the Scott Ar- boretum to be a part of the National American Plants Collections Consor- tium (NAPCC). The majority of the collection is situated between the Crum Woods tree line and the Crum creek floodplain, on a steeply graded

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 19 hill. The 4.5 acres (1.82 ha) provides southern exposure for the larger specimens, while the bog species are located in the floodplain. Weather in 2009 was atypical, with the summer having a much lower average temperature and a very high level of precipitation from June through August. The winter precipitation was undoubtedly the most in- fluential factor on the collection this year. The total accumulation of the 2009–2010 winter was exceptional, reaching a record 71.6 inches (1.8 m) of snow in the Philadelphia region. December surpassed its record for both rain and snow, with snowfall reaching 23.2 inches (58.9 cm). How- ever, the two successive storms on February 5 and 6 which dumped 28.5 inches (72.3 cm) and February 10 and 11 with an additional 15.8 inches (40.1 cm) caused the majority of damage throughout the Scott Arbore- tum, with the most detrimental damage occurring in the conifer collec- tion. This was an unprecedented amount of snow in the Swarthmore re- gion, like most of the Northeast. The second storm, which consisted of much heavier, wet snow, exacerbated already stressful conditions. The damage to the larger, multi-trunked hollies was the most noticeable, as major leaders snapped and affected lower branches. Many smaller shrubs, especially Ilex crenata cultivars, were also significantly damaged after being splayed open from the weight of the snow. This year’s highest rated hollies (on a scale of 1-10) are:

I. opaca ‘Carolina’ I. o. ‘Slim Jane’ I. o. ‘Bittersweet’ I. crenata ‘Convexa’ I. o. ‘Felten’s Special’ I. opaca (Yellow fruiting I. o. ‘Betsy’ variety) I. o. ‘Felton No. 7’ I. ‘William Cowgill’ I. o. ‘Jersey Princess’

This year’s lowest rated hollies (on a scale of 1-10) are:

I. × altaclerensis ‘J.C. van Tol’ I. aquifolium I. crenata var. paludosa ‘Rubricaulis Aurea’ I. c. ‘Tennyson’ I. × attenuata ‘Lake City’ I. c. ‘Maxwell’ I. cassine I. leucoclada × cornuta I. cornuta ‘Slack’ I. glabra ‘Ivory Queen’ I. ‘William Cowgill’ I. × meserveae Blue Stallion™ I. opaca ‘Susan’

20 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 This year’s highest rated fruiting hollies are: I. cornuta ‘Burfordii’ I. verticillata ‘Winter Red’ I. × attenuata ‘Longwood Gold’ I. ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ I. cornuta × pernyi Samuel W. Keitch, Curatorial Intern

TYLER ARBORETUM Media, PA (USDA Hardiness Zone 6) The year 2009 was unusual for its cool and wet summer. The summer season was characterized by cooler temperatures with a few days above 90 °F (32.2 °C). It was also distinguished by ample and regular rainfall. Precipitation occurred at well-timed intervals throughout the summer. As a result, we did not experience any drought from July to September. Most gardens did not use any form of additional irrigation in 2009. On December 20, Tyler Arboretum received approximately 23.2 inches (60 cm) of snow. This snowfall, measured in a single day, guaran- teed that the snowfall total for the winter of 2009–2010 would surpass the region’s annual average of about 20 inches (50.8 cm). It was also the second largest snowfall recorded for the region dating back to 1884. The storm marked the first time that the Philadelphia region had received a season’s worth of snow before winter officially started. Fortunately, the snowfall did no noticeable damage to the holly collection. No Ilex taxa were added to the collection in 2009. No Ilex taxa died, or were removed from the collection in 2009. Total number of Ilex accessions = 521 Total number of Ilex taxa = 151 Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’ continues to be an excellent plant hold- ing fruit long into the winter. The Ilex collection grows well at Tyler Arboretum and receives regu- lar maintenance, but it does not receive much public or research oriented attention.

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 21 Hollies of the Year at Tyler Arboretum 2003: Ilex opaca ‘Satyr Hill’ – Good plant; great fruit set; particu- larly good foliage without any signs of leaf miner 2004: Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ – not present in the collection 2005: Ilex koehneana ‘Lassie’ – Excellent plant with branches and foliage to the ground; handsome, medium green, glossy foliage; excellent fruit; no winterkill, die-back or foliar burn. 2006: Ilex × attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’ – Tyler’s specimens have lost their variegation; therefore, they are no long true to type. All-green plants did experience extensive leaf burn and stem die-back where exposed to winter sun. 2007: Ilex aquifolium ‘Lewis’ – Excellent pyramidal form with branches and foliage to the ground; handsome dark green foliage; not bountiful fruit; no winterkill, die-back or foliar burn. 2008: Ilex verticillata ‘Maryland Beauty’ – not in the collection 2009: Ilex ‘Scepter’ – not in the collection 2010 Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’ – naturalized in a semi-wild area. Their compact form and heavy berry set is still appreciated. Robert Herald, Plant Recorder

Richard M. Evans, Center Director, UT Forest Resources Center & Arboretum in Oak Ridge, TN, (L) and Tom H. Row, President, UT Arboretum Society, unveil the Holly Entrance at the dedication of the Harold L. Elmore Holly Collection. Photo by Ray Smith, Oak Ridge, TN, www.draysmith.com.

22 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE ARBORETUM Oak Ridge, TN (USDA Hardiness Zone 7a-6b) Holly (Ilex) is a diverse species group. Holly species are found in a wide range of climatic conditions: from dry to wet and from hot to cool. Fur- thermore, many individual species are also adaptable to a wide range of climates outside of their natural range. The UT Arboretum sits astride the demarcation line between USDA plant hardiness zones 7a and 6b (0 to 5 ºF and –5 to 0 ºF) at an elevation of 970 feet (295.7 m). This location is about in the middle of the range of hardiness zones in the Eastern US, and thus is ideal for growing many holly species. Annual precipitation averages 55 inches (1.4 m) a year. We recognized that we have a favor- able climate for many holly species when we considered a design for displaying hollies in the UT Arboretum’s collection. Early in its inception, the UT Arboretum embraced the design theme of displaying plants in Plant Association Models. An Association Model assembles plants not by species, but by their geographic (native) origin. For example, we have plants native to Central China, Southern US Coastal Plain, Western US Conifers, Eastern US Conifers, etc. in their respective association groups. This theme was followed in the design of our holly collection. For the most part, the Arboretum’s hollies are ar- ranged in groupings according to geographic origin: Chinese and Orien- tal hollies; Japanese hollies; English, European, and Western Asian hol- lies; and locally native species. Among these geographic groupings are specie hybrids and interspecific hybrids that share parentage among or between holly species with different geographic origin. The design plan worked well until the collection began to outgrow the allotted space for each grouping. Plans are just that: plans! Annual mean precipitation at the UT Arboretum, over the last several years, has bounced around the mean, but never seems to hit the mark. In 2008 we were 4.19 inches (10.6 cm) below the mean, and in 2009 we were 14.86 inches (37.7 cm) above the mean. The additional precipita- tion in 2009 produced abundant vegetative growth and facilitated an abundant fruit crop. Likewise, seasonal temperatures were more favor- able, thus avoiding the late season freeze that completely ravaged the fruit and vegetative growth in 2007. The newest addition to the UT Arboretum Holly Collection, of which we are most proud, is not the addition of new plants. In 2009 we began construction on what we call the Holly Entrance, or what we affection- ately refer to as the Holly Wall. This stone and masonry structure in-

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 23 cludes a sitting bench and column. The column bears three plaques: one that dedicates the collection to the memory of Mr. Harold “Mr. Holly” Elmore; one that names the collection the Harold L. Elmore Holly Col- lection; and one from the Holly Society of America which identifies our collection as an Official Holly Arboretum. Construction of this feature was a joint effort between the Arboretum crew and volunteers from the UT Arboretum Society. This striking new structure will welcome visitors for years to come and is a fitting tribute to Harold Elmore. Richard M. Evans, Center Director, UT Forest Resources Center & Arboretum

Fran Scheidt at the Harold L. Elmore Holly Collection dedication ceremony, UT Arboretum, Oak Ridge, TN. Photo by Ray Smith, Oak Ridge, TN, www.draysmith.com.

24 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM Washington, DC (USDA Hardiness Zone 7b) January 2009 was a fairly normal month with just a few nights with lows in the single digits. During the first week in January, we received about 2 inches (5.1 cm) of rain. Snowfall was minimal, and we recorded about 1 inch (2.5 cm) near the end of the month. February turned out to be one of the driest Februarys on record with only 0.25 inches (6.4 mm) of mois- ture. There were several days with temperatures well above normal as well. On March 2, we received 8 inches (20.3 cm) of snowfall. This was the largest amount of snowfall we received. The snow melted rather quickly as the temperatures warmed up. By the end of the month, there was concern that it was going to be a dry year. All that changed in April. We received normal rainfall in April, followed by above average rainfall in May, June and July. By the end of July, we had received almost half of our average rainfall for the year in three months. It was a steamy sum- mer, with high temperatures in the upper 80 to low 90 ºF (approximately 30.5 °C to 34 °C). August and September rainfall was average with minimal effects from Hurricane Fred in early September. October and November were wet again, and on December 19 and 20, we received 19 inches (48.3 cm) of snow during a blizzard that broke records for De- cember in the mid-Atlantic section of the country. This was due to a strong El Niño, which is expected to continue until the spring of 2010. The snow in December caused considerable damage to the Ilex collec- tion, resulting in the removal of just a few plants, but it will require ma- jor pruning of other plants. There were very few additions and deletions to the collection during the past year. They are listed on the inventory that is available on the HSA website. We are currently in the process of working on a new policy for the collection, and once the policy is approved, we will determine what plants should be removed and what we will focus on adding to the collection in the next several years. Several members of the Chesapeake Chapter of the Holly Society volunteered to work in the collection in the fall. They have also offered to work with us to evaluate the I. in the collection, focusing particularly on hybrids which were developed at the Arboretum. We have several Holly of the Year plants growing in the collection. The 2009 Holly of the Year, I. ‘Scepter’ does well in the mid-Atlantic region. There are two growing on the grounds of the Arboretum. Both of them were transplanted from the holly breeding nursery about ten years

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 25 ago. The original plant suffered after it was moved, but we were able to rejuvenate it by hat-racking it, and it has turned into a fine plant. ‘Scep- ter’ looks good all year. We have several plantings of I. verticillata ‘Red Sprite’. Berry production is not consistent year to year, which may have to do with the location of the male pollinator. Otherwise, ‘Red Sprite’ grows well in this area and is a good size plant for smaller gardens. Carole Bordelon, Supervisory Horticulturist

WASHINGTON PARK ARBORETUM UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON BOTANIC GARDENS Seattle, WA (USDA Hardiness Zone 8 b) Rainfall for the past autumn was relatively typical. For the period of Oc- tober through December 2009, the Arboretum gauge recorded total rain- fall of 17.18 inches (43.6 cm), or 115% of average. Through the end of the year, there were eighteen nights when low temperatures dropped be- low freezing, with consecutive seasonal lows of 16 °F (–8.9 °C) from December 8 to 11. All freezing nights occurred in December, with mild low temperatures prior to this period. The freezing temperatures were not accompanied by any snow. As of this writing, little if any damage has resulted from the weather of the past fall. The Ilex Collection suffered no breakage from snow loading and freeze damage is not apparent. Heat intensity during the past summer was greater than usual for the Puget Sound area. There was a total of nineteen days during the months of June, July and August with a high temperature ≥ 80 °F (26.7 °C), and the seasonal high of 100 °F (37.8 °C) was recorded on July 29. Summer rainfall is typically low in this modified Mediterranean climate. However, 2009 summer rainfall was significantly below normal, with 1.04 inches (2.6 cm), or 31% of average, for the months of June, July and August. The unusually hot summer appears to have brought out the best in certain species. Among these was Ilex suaveolens, which seemed to rel- ish the extra heat units by putting on notably strong growth during the 2009 season. The sixteen very large specimens that were retained in the Pacific Connections Entry Gardens, mostly I. opaca and I. purpurea, flowered in 2009 and appear to be responding well to their improved growing conditions. Following the transformation plan developed by the Curation Department, the horticulture staff has completed the transplant- ing of all Ilex specimens from the old collection area to a new display 26 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 area on the west side of the Arboretum. In all, a total of ninety-two holly specimens have been transplanted to the new Ilex display area. Randall Hitchin, Living Collection Manager & Registrar

INTERNATIONAL ILEX CULTIVAR REGISTRATIONS Michael R. Pontti

1-09 Ilex opaca ‘Hume’s Choice’ Female Registered: February 14, 2009 William N. Kuhl McLean Nurseries 9000 Satyr Hill Road Baltimore, Maryland 21234

Discovered and selected in 1950 by Stewart McLean as a chance seed- ling growing on the grounds of McLean Nurseries in Baltimore, Mary- land. Subsequently named and introduced about 1976 by William Kuhl. This selection has been growing in the nursery for over six decades, and has been in cultivation under this name for approximately forty years and used as a specimen holly in many arboreta throughout the United States. The tree sits on a small mound in a prominent location in the nursery. Many years ago it was dug, balled and burlapped, and placed where it now grows, apparently rooting and establishing itself without the benefit of being officially planted. Dr. Harold H. Hume, an early authority on holly and an author, admired the taxa on his many visits to McLean Nurseries to collaborate with Stewart McLean. He was especially keen at selecting outstanding cultivars, having made several selections and intro- ductions of his own, and observed that ‘Hume’s Choice’ is, “...well fruited, with excellent foliage, making it especially desirable for cut holly and landscaping.” This evergreen tree, estimated to be over sixty years old, is 13.7 m (45 feet) tall and 5.2 m (17 feet) wide, with a broadly conical shape and a horizontal branching habit. Leaves are coriaceous, a moderate olive green, elliptic to broadly elliptic, 4.5–6.5 cm (1¾–2½ inches) long, 2.5– 3.0 cm (1–13∕16 inches) wide, Green Group 137A on the Royal Horticul- tural Society Colour Chart of 1986, keeled, undulate, 2–5 spines on the upper two-thirds of the leaf, margins slightly wavy, petioles 7–10 mm VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 27 (9∕32–⅜ inch) long; fruits vivid red 44A, on the Royal Horticultural Soci- ety Colour Chart of 1986, globose, 8–11 mm (5∕16–7∕16 inch) diameter, abundant, reddish pedicels 6-8 mm (7∕32–5∕16 inch) long. Plants are being grown and distributed from McLean Nurseries in Baltimore, Maryland. Selection was based on fruit and foliage with comparable character- istics to both Ilex opaca ‘Miss Helen’ and I. o. ‘Satyr Hill’, moderate green leaves and large red fruit. Hardiness is rated at Zone 5 on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map of 1990. Voucher specimens are on deposit in the herbarium of the U.S. Na- tional Arboretum (NA), Washington, DC, 20002.

Ilex opaca ‘Hume’s Choice’. Photo by Sue Dieter.

2-09 Ilex opaca ‘Charming Cleopatra’ Female Registered: February 14, 2009 William N. Kuhl McLean Nurseries 9000 Satyr Hill Road Baltimore, Maryland 21234

Discovered and selected in 2003 by William Kuhl as a chance seedling, growing on the grounds of McLean Nurseries in Baltimore, Maryland, subsequently named and introduced in 2004. The selection has been sold to the nursery trade on the East coast since that year. This taxa was named in memory of a special golden retriever named Cleopatra, owned by Miriam Miceli, a longtime employee at the nursery. The pet, an im-

28 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 portant and visible part of the establishment for ten years, came to work each day with her owner and went out of her way to charm visitors and customers. Her legacy lives on in this holly selection prominently located in the nursery, as equally charming as her namesake. This evergreen tree, estimated to be seventeen years old, is 3.7 m (12 feet) tall and 2.1 m (7 feet) wide, with a conical shape and a horizontal branching habit. Leaves are coriaceous, oval, 6.7 cm (2⅝ inches) long, 4.1 cm (1⅝ inches) wide, keeled, Green Group 137B on the Royal Horti- cultural Society Colour Chart of 1986, apex acuminate and leaf base acuminate, undulate, 3–5 spines on the upper two-thirds of the leaf, mar- gins slightly wavy, petioles to 7 mm (¼ inch) long, with average growth to 1.5 dm (6 inches); fruits are elliptic, 8 mm (5∕16 inch) diameter, round in cross-section, abundant, red-orange, Red Group 44C on the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of 1986. Plants are being grown and distributed from McLean Nurseries in Baltimore, Maryland.

Ilex opaca ‘Charming Cleopatra’. Photo by Sue Dieter

Selection was based on heavy clusters of well displayed, bright red- orange fruit and foliage similar to Ilex opaca ‘Miss Helen’, but broader and more flattened. The fruit clusters quickly grab your eye as they ripen

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 29 in October, holding well after Christmas if spared by birds, especially the robins. Ilex opaca ‘Charming Cleopatra’ is an excellent cultivar, well- suited for planting as a specimen or cut holly. Hardiness is rated at Zone 5 on the USDA Plant hardiness Zone Map of 1990. Voucher specimens are on deposit in the herbarium of the U.S. Na- tional Arboretum (NA), in Washington, DC, 20002.

3-09 Ilex (cornuta × pernyi) ‘Sais’ Female Registered: December 2, 2009 Mr. Andrew Bunting for Mr. Wirt Thompson Upper Bank Nursery 670 South Orange Street Media, Pennsylvania 19063

About 1994, Wirt Thompson discovered, selected and introduced ‘Sais’ as a mutation (sport) at his Upper Bank Nursery in Media, Pennsylvania. The parent plant remains on the property where it was originally planted by Thompson’s uncle, Mr. Fairman R. Furness, out in a row. Thompson’s clone, however, is a variegated sport from the original plant that is green leaved. The large evergreen shrub or small tree, estimated to be fifteen years old, is 4.6 m (15 feet) tall and 2.5 m (8 feet) wide, with a conical shape and a horizontal branching habit. Leaves are coriaceous, glabrous and variegated, with a mix of green, cream and yellow, displaying more yel- low variegation when grown in the sun. The leaf shape is oblong- quadrangular, with a triangularly acuminate, spined apex and a truncate- obtuse to cuneate base. Leaves are medium size, to 4 cm (19∕16 inches) long by 2.1 cm (13∕16 inch) wide, with undulate margins entire, spined, slightly convex in side view; usually with two spines on each side of the tip spine and short petioles to 3 mm (⅛ inch). The fruit is single axillary, red, Red Group 44 B on the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1986, to 7 mm (¼ inch), round and with pedicels to 3 mm (⅛ inch) long. Distribution of the taxon has occurred sparingly over the years, but no records were ever kept of who got the plants. According to Mr. Andrew Bunting, Curator for the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, Thompson is giving a plant to the Arbore- tum’s collections.

30 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 The name of the cultivar is in honor of Sara Chattin Wood Thompson who was married to Wirt Thompson. ‘Sais’ was her nickname since early childhood. She lived at Upper Bank Nursery in Media, Pennsylvania, as the property was inherited from Wirt’s uncle, Fairman Furness, in 1971. On May 11, 2009, Mr. Thompson turned 98 years old. Selection was based on the variegated foliage of the taxon and the fact that there are not any registered cultivars with the same parentage. Hardiness is rated at Zone 6b on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map of 1990. Voucher specimens are on deposit in the herbarium of the U.S. Na- tional Arboretum (NA), in Washington, DC, 20002.

1-10 Ilex (aquifolium × cornuta) ‘Sled Run‘ Male Registered: April 21, 2010 Dr. James F. Resch 5 Heather Loft Court Bear, Delaware 19701

The origin of this clone is unknown, but it is thought to be a putative chance hybrid seedling of Ilex aquifolium × cornuta. Collected in the late 1960s in the wild along Satyr Hill Road, Baltimore County, Maryland, by Dr. James F. Resch. Dr. Resch grew up at the base of Satyr Hill, which was also home to McLean Nurseries, owned and operated by the late Stewart McLean. Mr. McLean grew at least three hundred distinct culti- vars of holly in the nursery, which included many large specimen I. opaca and I. aquifolium as well as numerous other unusual species and hybrids. The diversity of that collection made for a rich gene pool for open pollination. Birds scattered holly seeds freely over Satyr Hill, and as a young boy, Dr. Resch collected numerous seedlings from the woods for planting in his parents’ yard in the valley below. The plant which be- came ‘Sled Run’ was collected as a tiny seedling that caught his eye due to its very glossy green leaves. The original site, north of McLean Nurs- eries, was also near his favorite winter sledding route and has the ap- proximate GPS coordinates of 39.413, -76.541. The wild-collected seedling was planted on the north face of Dr. Resch’s parents’ home in Parkville, Maryland (zone 7a), and grew into a small evergreen tree with a horizontal branching habit. After forty years,

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 31 the plant exhibited a broadly conical shape, approximately 5.5 m (15 feet) tall by 4.4 m (12 feet) wide, with a trunk diameter of 15 cm (6 inches). The plant was a prolific bloomer and grew alongside a large ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ holly that never failed to produce a heavy berry crop. As ‘Sled Run’ matured, its distinctive attribute was the variable nature of the leaf margins. Most leaves were completely lacking marginal spines and were strongly flattened, although some leaves occasionally had one or two marginal spines, while a much smaller number appeared more typical of a traditional I. aquifolium leaf type with spiny, undulate mar- gins. Unfortunately, the original ‘Sled Run’ in Parkville was removed by the present property owners during landscape renovations in the spring of 2009. Leaves of ‘Sled Run’ are simple, glossy, coriaceous and of very heavy substance. The largest leaves are 7.5 cm (3 inches) long by 6.0 cm (2⅜ inches) wide and are orbicular (approximately circular in outline) to broadly oval. The majority of the leaves have completely spineless, flat margins. A minority of the leaves have 1–3 small marginal spines, often inconspicuous and only on one side. Only rarely do leaves appear which are boldly spinose, with up to 5 spines per side, and in rare cases the margins are undulate. Leaf tips are acuminate, with a tip spine to 1–2 mm (1∕16 inch) long. Leaf bases are rounded. Petioles are up to 1.4 cm (9∕16 inch) long. Leaf color is very dark olive green, Green Group 139A above and Green Group 138A on the underside, on the Royal Horticul- tural Society Colour Chart, 1995. Young plants show good apical dominance and may grow about 30 cm (12 inches) per year, but growth slows with maturity and plants tend to broaden. A seventeen year old cutting, started in 1992, was 3.3 m (9 feet) tall and nearly equal in width. ‘Sled Run’ has abundant staminate flowers with four petals and four stamens each that are borne in fasciculate clusters in the leaf axils on previous season’s wood. The flowers are strongly fragrant and attractive to pollinating insects. Buds may show a distinct purplish blush before opening white. ‘Sled Run’ has a very long flowering season, typically beginning a few days before the flowering of I. aquifolium cultivars (e.g. ‘Argentea Marginata’, ‘Lewis’, and ‘Silver Queen’) and nearer to the flowering dates of putative I. aquifolium × cornuta hybrids ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ and ‘Edward J. Stevens’. The last flowering days often overlap the first few days of I. opaca blooms.

32 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 Plants have been grown by the selector since 1992 and have been distributed to a small, select group of HSA members. This selection will be distributed at the 2010 HSA National meeting in Knoxville, Tennes- see, as a test holly. Selection was ultimately based on very broad leaves (nearly as wide as long) with typically spineless margins, glossy dark green color, and a long-term compatibility with the climate of the mid- Atlantic region. Hardiness is rated at zone 7a on the USDA Plant Hardi- ness Zone map of 1990. The hardiness range estimate, however, has been limited because of limited distribution of this selection to date. Voucher specimens are on deposit in the herbarium of the U. S. Na- tional Arboretum (NA), Washington, DC, 20002.

Ilex (aquifolium × cornuta) ‘Sled Run’ in flower. April 30, 2009. Photo by Jim Resch.

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 33 TREASURER’S REPORT, MARCH 31, 2010 Dennis Superczynski

The fiscal year beginning April 1, 2009, began with a net worth of $89,284 as reported at the June 2009 Interim Meeting. Net loss for the year totaled $(4,486) leaving an adjusted net worth balance of $84,798 on March 31, 2010. Revenue for the year totaled $25,389, offset with expenses of $29,875, resulted in the loss for the year. The net loss was favorable to budget by $10,162, primarily due to two fewer journals printed and grants not funded. Highlights for the year include: Annual Meeting and auction revenue of $12,887 with expenses of $9,330 left a favorable net income of $3,557. This was very close to budgeted levels. New and renewing memberships totaled $7,760. This was $3,780 less than the previous year and $640 less than budget. Trust Fund donations received during the year totaled $831. This was less than previous year by $1,569 and less than budget by $1,369. Interest Income from Trust Fund Investments totaled $3,565. Depos- its were made into the operating funds for interest earned on Treasury Notes in the Research Trust Fund for $1,850 in addition to $6.000 trans- ferred from the Wolf Memorial Fund to overcome a cash flow shortfall. Ending trust fund assets were $76,088 as of March 31, 2010, $4,285 less than beginning balance of $80,373. The transition for the Investment Committee Chairperson from Myo Myint to Albert Hendley was completed in the first quarter 2009. No payments were made out of the grant funds and no new grants were funded. The balance in the fund for Pedro Gutierrez P54, “DNA Analysis on Antillean and Mexican species of Ilex L. (Aquifoliaceae)”, is $1,267, and a balance of $1,000 remains in the fund for P50, “Scheffer”. John Ruter has advised that no further payment is required on #P54 and a final payment on #P50 will be made in 2010.

34 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOLUME 28 - 2010 INDEX

Annual Meeting 2009 ...... 28(1):18 Holly Society of America Awards ...... 28(1):18 Winners of the 2009 Holly Sprig Contest ...... 28(1):20 2009 Test Hollies ...... 28(1):23 2009 Non-Test Annual Meeting Plants ...... 28(1):25 Longwood Gardens Hollies ...... 28(1):25 Proceedings ...... 28(1):27 Holly Society of America, Inc. Financial Reports ...... 28(1):33 2009 Annual Meeting Sponsors ...... 28(1):34 Meeting Participants ...... 28(1):35 Annual Meeting Tours - 2009 ...... 28(1):8 Ann Farnham Early Arrivals Tour ...... 28(1):6 Charles Anderson The Gene Eisenbeiss 2009 Holly of the Year ...... 28(1):17 Bill Cannon A History of Polly Hill Arboretum ...... 28(1):12 Tom Clark Holly Arboreta 2009 Annual Reports Arboretum Bokrijk ...... 28(2):3 Arboretum des Près des Culands Conservatoire National D’Ilex ...... 28(2):4 Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest ...... 28(2):5 Blue Ridge Community College ...... 28(2):6 Callaway Gardens ...... 28(2):6 Chollipo Arboretum ...... 28(2):7 Clark-Landsbaum Deming Park Holly Arboretum ...... 28(2):9 The Dawes Arboretum ...... 28(2):10 Denver Botanic Gardens ...... 28(2):13 Ebersole Holly Collection ...... 28(2):13 Missouri Botanical Gardens ...... 28(2):15 The Morris Arboretum ...... 28(2):15 Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park ...... 28(2):16 The Polly Hill Arboretum ...... 28(2):18 The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College ...... 28(2):19 Tyler Arboretum ...... 28(2):21

VOL. 28 (2), 2010 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL 35 University of Tennessee Arboretum ...... 28(2):23 U.S. National Arboretum ...... 28(2):25 Washington Park Arboretum ...... 28(2):26 Holly Society Journal Volume 28, 2009, Index ...... 28(2):35 HSA Annual Meeting Sites ...... 28(1):36, 28(2):36 Ilex Species on Martha’s Vineyard ...... 28(1):31 Kristin Henriksen International Ilex Cultivar Registrations ...... 28(2):27 Michael R, Pontti Tour of Polly Hill Arboretum ...... 28(1):11 Tom Clark Treasurer’s Report, March 31, 2010 ...... 28(2):34 Dennis Superczynski

❖ HSA ANNUAL MEETING SITES ❖ 63RD MEETING KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE November 4-7, 2010

64TH MEETING LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK October 20-23, 2011

65TH MEETING RICHMOND, VIRGINIA October 24-28, 2012

36 HOLLY SOCIETY JOURNAL VOL. 28 (2), 2010