Ilex x attenuata 'Alagold'

The Foster hollies are among the most planted evergreens in the South, a group of hybrids between the native dahoon, Ilex cassine, and the native American holly, Ilex opaca, raised at Foster Nursery in northern Alabama. They carry narrow, dark, lightly spined leaves on a neat pyramidal frame and fruit heavily in red. 'Alagold' is the exception in color: a yellow-berried seedling of Foster number two, hanging clear amber-gold fruit each winter against dark olive-green foliage, on the same dependable, upright, tree-like holly.

Yellow-fruited hollies have a long hold on collectors, prized for the way the gold reads warm where red reads bright, and for the surprise of a holly that breaks the Christmas-card expectation. 'Alagold' keeps all the working virtues of a Foster holly, the glossy evergreen density, the wildlife value, the clean pyramidal outline, and simply trades scarlet for amber. Songbirds take the fruit through winter, though, as with all hollies, the berries are for the birds and not for people, being mildly toxic if eaten.

Foster hollies came out of Foster Nursery as chance hybrids of two Southeastern natives, and 'Alagold' arose as a yellow-berried seedling within that line. The Foster clones are notably self-fruitful, setting a good crop with no mate in sight, though a male of either parent species nearby only improves the show. That reliability, and the amber fruit, make the plant an easy, distinctive evergreen.

Give 'Alagold' room to become a small tree, twenty feet and more in time, and use the upright pyramid as a specimen, a tall evergreen screen, or a corner anchor where the gold berries can glow against dark foliage or a winter sky. The color pairs beautifully with red-berried hollies for a two-tone winter planting, and the lacquered, fruited branches cut well for holiday greenery. Full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained, acidic soil suit the plant best.