Sparkleberry

Botantical: Ilex (serrata x verticillata)

Family: Aquifoliaceae

Description: Sparkleberry' and 'Apollo' resulted from a National Arboretum plant breeding program to develop hollies with highly ornamental qualities and improved adaptability to diverse landscape conditions. This cross of a Japanese species with a southeastern native resulted in a plant with the heavy fruiting character of the Asian parent, the larger fruit size and adaptability to wet soils of the native parent, and superior fruit retention to either parent.

Height and width: 12 feet tall and wide.

Habit: Large, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub; upright form.

Foliage: Typical of species, yellow autumn color. Male pollinator, 'Apollo' is similiar in size, habit and leaf.

Flowers: Female selection. Small white flowers in early June. 'Apollo' (male) produces abundant flowers.

Fruit: Abundant, large (5/16 inch), brilliant glossy red fruit with outstanding persistence. Fruit may persist until March. Fruit borne on short pedicels, on current season's growth. Fruit production requires male pollinator of either parent species or 'Apollo'