Kingdom Plantae Family Aquifoliaceae Scientific name Ilex mitis | Order Aquifoliales Genus Ilex Rank Species | |
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Similar Rapanea melanophloeos, Kiggelaria africana, Apodytes dimidiata, Halleria lucida, Diospyros whyteana | ||
Ilex mitis (commonly called Cape holly, African holly, waterboom or umDuma) is a tall, dense, evergreen tree that is indigenous to Southern Africa. It makes an excellent fast-growing hedge for gardens - growing tall, straight and dense.
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Appearance
If not pruned, Ilex mitis can grow to a height of 20 meters or more. Its trunk is straight, grey or brown and usually spotted while it produces a dense, even canopy. Young growth and leaf-stalks tend to be purple or red. The simply shaped, pointed, shiny-green leaves have wavy margins that are sometimes slightly serrated. The tree can be identified by its purple or maroon leaf stalks and the leaves’ strongly impressed midribs.
The small, white, scented flowers appear in spring. Ilex mitis is dioecious, with separate male and female trees.
The bright red fruits ripen in autumn, creating a colourful display and attracting a variety of birds.
Distribution
This is the only holly (Ilex) species from South Africa, where it grows naturally in all provinces, from Cape Town in the south, all the way up past Zimbabwe and Malawi in the north. It is usually found growing on the banks of rivers and in moist spots in Afro-montane forest.
Growing Ilex mitis
This is a fast-growing tree, growing nearly a meter a year in ideal conditions. It grows especially well in wet areas like beside lakes or rivers and it tolerates frost, making it suitable for colder climates. Fresh seed will usually germinate, but should first be dried out a bit. If kept moist after planting, the young plants usually sprout several weeks later. It transplants well, but needs to be protected from drying out and direct sun whilst young.
It has no known diseases or pests, though in the wild it is one of the favourite foods of elephants.