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Growth Rate
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Slow to moderate, maintaining a neat, low, mounding shape.
Mature size: approximately 12–18 inches tall and 2–3 feet wide.
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Colorful leaves
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Flowering
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Yes |
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Bloom Color
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Disease resistant
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Yes |
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Cold Tolerant
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Yes |
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Heat Tolerant
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Yes |
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Drought Tolerant
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No |
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Deer Resistant
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Yes |
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Edible
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No |
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Wildlife Attraction
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Bees and pollinators visit the small spring blooms.
Provides cover for small garden wildlife due to its dense, evergreen structure.
Foliage is deer resistant and rarely browsed.
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Seasonality
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Evergreen year-round, providing constant color and form.
Flowers in late spring; maintains vivid foliage through all seasons.
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Ideal For
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– Accent plant, colorful low hedge, foundation planting, rock garden, or border edging |
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Leaf Description
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Evergreen, small, glossy leaves with a brilliant golden-yellow hue and lime-green undertones.
Foliage maintains its color throughout all seasons, even in winter.
Compact and finely textured, similar to boxwood but more colorful.
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Flower Description
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Tiny white flowers appear in late spring, nestled among foliage.
Flowers are subtle but fragrant and attract pollinators.
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Planting Instructions
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Choose a full sun to partial shade location with well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and equal in depth.
Loosen the surrounding soil to encourage root expansion.
Mix compost or peat moss into the backfill to improve moisture retention and aeration.
Set the crown at soil level, backfill gently, and water deeply to settle soil around the roots.
Apply a 2–3 inch mulch layer (pine bark, compost, or leaves) to conserve moisture and suppress weeds, keeping mulch a few inches from the base.
Space plants 2–3 feet apart for borders or group plantings.
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Pruning & Maintenance
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Naturally compact, so little pruning is needed.
If shaping is desired, prune in late spring or early summer after new growth hardens.
Remove dead or damaged branches as necessary.
Avoid severe pruning into old wood, which may not regrow.
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Water Needs
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Requires consistent moisture during establishment (first growing season).
Once established, moderately drought tolerant but performs best with regular deep watering during extended dry periods.
Avoid soggy or compacted soils; ensure proper drainage to prevent root rot.
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Light Needs
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Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Achieves the best bright golden foliage color in full sun, while partial shade helps prevent scorch in very hot climates.
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Harvesting
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No berries—male cultivar.
Non-edible foliage; mildly toxic if ingested.
Excellent for tidy, low-maintenance landscapes without fruit litter.
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Fertilizing
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Feed in early spring with a slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants (e.g., 10-6-4).
Alternatively, apply a topdressing of compost each spring to maintain fertility.
Avoid overfertilizing; too much nitrogen can reduce foliage color intensity.
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Pollination
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Male cultivar, does not produce berries.
Can serve as a pollinator for female Ilex crenata plants nearby.
Small flowers attract bees and beneficial insects in late spring.
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Companion Plants
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Evergreens: Boxwood (Buxus microphylla), Juniperus ‘Blue Star’, and dwarf conifers for texture contrast.
Flowering shrubs: Azaleas, Camellias, and Hydrangea ‘Little Lime’ for seasonal blooms.
Perennials: Hosta, Heuchera, or ornamental grasses for layered color and shape.
Design tip: Combine with dark-leaved plants like Loropetalum or Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ to make its golden foliage pop.
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