Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Sunday - July 03, 2016

From: Birmingham, AL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Seeds and Seeding, Shrubs
Title: Savannah Holly True to Seed?
Answered by: Anne Van Nest

QUESTION:

I read your information on Savannah holly. Does this mean that none of the berries will produce a Savannah holly (Ilex x attenuata) but will either be Ilex cassine or Ilex opaca seeds? Thanks so much in advance. It was a great berry year and the robins and cedar waxwings feasted here this weekend.

ANSWER:

The US Forest Service factsheet by Edward Gilman and Dennis Watson identifies Savannah Holly as Ilex x attenuata 'Savannah.' As you have read, and what is listed on the Missouri Botanical Garden website. is that Ilex x attenuata is a cross between I. cassine and I. opaca (both parents share common native territory in the far southeastern U.S. (coastal NC to Florida). 'Savannah; is a narrow, columnar to open, pyramidal form that was discovered by W. H. Robertson, Commissioner of Parks in Savannah, Georgia and has been available in commerce since 1953. So the fruit of 'Savannah' could have characteristics of I x attenuata, I. cassine or I. opaca. It is doubtful that the seed from your 'Savannah' will be true to type. Most nursery propagators will have taken cuttings of female trees so that the resulting plant has fruit.
Glad that the birds found the holly fruit and feasted on them.

 

From the Image Gallery


American holly
Ilex opaca

More Shrubs Questions

Revegetating a hillside in western Washington state
October 10, 2012 - Removing several downed trees across my dock demolished the native plants growing on the hillside and the contractor pulled out their remains. The area faces east on an open freshwater bay. Close to...
view the full question and answer

Shrubs for hedge not toxic to horses and llamas in California
May 01, 2011 - I have goats llamas and horses, and need a short hedge that is non-toxic to them. It will be along a section of no-climb fencing, but they would be able to get to it. I lost a foal this morning and co...
view the full question and answer

Plants for wet soils in North Carolina
October 03, 2009 - I'm looking for evergreen plants (shrubs or ground cover)that will tolerate wet conditions for the zone 8 area of North Carolina. The local garden centers here do not stock these types of plants, eve...
view the full question and answer

Sages in Catasauqua, PA
August 08, 2014 - I want to buy a Texas Sage tree but I live in PA. Can I bring the tree indoors during winter?
view the full question and answer

Plants that smell like chocolate from Coral Gables FL
July 12, 2012 - I am looking for plants that smell like chocolate. I live in south Florida. We are currently growing and testing Berlandiera lyrata. Do you know of other plants whose flowers smell like chocolate?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.