NCIV3

Holly

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'FarrowMrP' (Mr. Poppins)

Summary: The plants of 'NCIV3' are larger than the plants of 'FarrowMrP'. The stems of 'NCIV3' have many lateral branches whereas the stems of 'FarrowMrP' have a medium number of lateral branches. The density of the foliage is dense for 'NCIV3' whereas the density of the foliage is medium for 'FarrowMrP'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the stem is absent or very weak for 'NCIV3' whereas the intensity is weak to medium for 'FarrowMrP'. The leaf of 'NCIV3' is longer than the leaf of 'FarrowMrP'.

Description:

SHRUB: male, deciduous type, upright growth habit, dense foliage
BASAL BRANCHES: medium number, semi-upright attitude
LATERAL BRANCHES: many, upright attitude

STEM: smooth shape, light brown, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, no twisting

PETIOLE: present
LEAF: alternate arrangement along stem, simple type
LEAF BLADE: elliptic to obovate shape, acute apex with apiculate tip, cuneate base, serrate margin, absent to weak undulation of margin, leathery texture, weak fragrance
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): dark green (RHS 144A) when newly open, green grey (RHS N189A, but more green) when mature, strong glossiness
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): medium green

FLOWER: white on inner and outer side

BERRY: not produced

Origin & Breeding History: 'NCIV3' was bred and developed by the breeder, Thomas Green Ranney, an employee of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. It originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred in 2005, in Mills River, North Carolina, between the 'Ilex verticillata' variety 'Red Sprite', as the female parent, and an unknown male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'NCIV3' was selected in the spring of 2006 for its compact plant growth habit and male flower production. 'NCIV3' was first propagated asexually by softwood cuttings in 2010, in Mills River, North Carolina, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'NCIV3' was conducted as an outdoor irrigated container trial during the summer of 2017 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. It included a total of 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from 11.5 cm long liners, that were planted into 9 litre containers on July 17, 2016. The shrubs were overwintered in a polyhouse. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 shrubs or parts of 10 shrubs of each variety on July 5, 2017, with the exception of the flower observations which were recorded on June 15, 2017. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'NCIV3' with reference variety 'FarrowMrP'

Shrub height (cm)

Shrub width (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

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Holly: 'NCIV3' (left) with reference variety 'FarrowMrP' (right)

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Holly: 'NCIV3' (left) with reference variety 'FarrowMrP' (right)