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Ilex aquifolium 'Golden Milkmaid' (f/v)

A dense, upright evergreen shrub or small tree about 6m tall, with purplish-green stems bearing spine-edged, variegated green leaves boldly splashed with gold in the centre. Small, white female flowers in late spring are followed by red berries through autumn, if pollinated by a male holly

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Ultimate height

Time to ultimate height

Ultimate spread

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Aquifoliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Genus: Ilex can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs and trees with often spiny leaves, small white flowers (male and female usually on separate plants) and, on female plants, showy berries in autumn
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in a sunny position. Although partial shade is suitable, variegated cultivars have better leaf colour in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or hardwood cuttings in autumn to midwinter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1; trim hedges in early spring; remove shoots affected by reversion

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, scale insects and holly leaf miner

Diseases

May be susceptible to phytophthora root rot and holly leaf blight

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.

Ilex aquifolium 'Golden Milkmaid' (f/v)

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