Comparison of leaf attributes of Ilex ‘Mopan Jinguang’, Ilex chinensis, and Ilex ‘Sunny Foster’.
Phenotypic characteristics of ‘Mopan Jinguang’. (A) Upright growth habit with a semiopen canopy. (B, C) Leaves and twigs.
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The genus Ilex L. (Aquifoliaceae) consists of more than 700 dioecious tree and shrub species distributed throughout tropical to temperate regions (Chong et al. 2022; Yao et al. 2022). In China, more than 200 species of Ilex have been documented (Su et al. 2020; Zhou et al. 2022). Ilex species have been widely used as pharmaceutical plants, ornamentals, timber, and honey plants (Tsang and Corlett 2005; Yao et al. 2022; Yi et al. 2016). Throughout the range of the genus, hollies have similar flowers and fruit, but show considerable variation in their leaves, including size, shape, color, texture, and margins (Yao et al. 2016). These leaf characteristics contribute significantly to their germplasm identification, and ornamental and commercial values (Chong et al. 2022). Ilex dabieshanensis ‘Ning Qing 3’ is unique for its peculiar oblong leaf morphology (Chong et al. 2023). Ilex dabieshanensis ‘Ning Qing 4’ stands out with its peculiar elliptical and serrated leaves (Zhou et al. 2024).
The most well-known “industry standard” hollies available in the market are Ilex verticillata (deciduous) and Ilex ×attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’ (evergreen). Ilex verticillata is popular for providing cut branches with bright-red drupes for winter decorations, whereas I. attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’ is notable for its golden narrow leaves. ‘Mopan Jinguang’ was selected and released by the Jurong Mopan Mountain Forestry Farm. This cultivar has attracted much attention because of its yellow variegated leaves; the young leaves are golden yellow [Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) 12A] (Royal Horticultural Society 2015), whereas the mature leaves are yellow (RHS 12A) in primary color and olive green (RHS 146A) in secondary color. The leaf color enriches holly’s genetic resources and significantly enhances its ornamental value. ‘Mopan Jinguang’ has the characteristics of wide adaptability, superior cold tolerance, and fewer pests and diseases. This cultivar is suitable for landscaping in parks, gardens, and other landscapes.
In 2015, a plant with significant leaf color variation was discovered in a seedling population of Ilex chinensis at the Jurong Mopan Mountain Forestry Farm, Tianwang Town, Jurong City, Jiangsu, China. This individual seedling was transplanted carefully into the nursery and selected for further phenotypic identification. It was subsequently named ‘Mopan Jinguang’. The name Mopan is derived from the discovery site of the plant, Mopan Mountain Forestry Farm, whereas Jinguang refers to its golden yellow, glossy leaves. From 2018 to 2022, the plant was split-grafted to 5-year-old I. chinensis seedling rootstocks, with a more than 90% survival rate. After 6 years of field observation (2018–23), the grafted seedlings exhibited the same morphological characteristics as the mother plant, confirming their phenotypic stability. The cultivar grew vigorously in Jiangsu (lat. 118°49′E, long. 32°03′N, US Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones ∼9b/10a) and can tolerate high (37 to 41 °C) and low (–7 to 0 °C) temperatures. To date, no serious diseases and pests have been observed. The Forest Variety Certification Committee of China authorized the cultivar in 2024.
Among the available germplasm resources of Ilex, ‘Mopan Jinguang’ shows similarities to Ilex ×attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’ and I. chinensis. Specifically, ‘Sunny Foster’ is characterized by elliptical, dark-green (RHS 147A) leaves with yellow (RHS 12B) blotches and leaf margins bearing one to three small spines on each side, whereas ‘Mopan Jinguang’ displays narrowly elliptical, glossy yellow (RHS 12A) variegated leaves with crenate margins. In contrast, the leaf color of I. chinensis is grayish olive green (RHS NN137A) (Table 1, Fig. 1). Specific characteristics of ‘Mopan Jinguang’ include the following.
Citation: HortScience 60, 6; 10.21273/HORTSCI18487-25
It is an evergreen tree with an upright spreading habit, forming a graceful canopy (Fig. 2). It can reach up to 2.2 m tall with a 1.4-m spread at 6 years of age.
Citation: HortScience 60, 6; 10.21273/HORTSCI18487-25
The branches are olive-gray without lenticels. The mature leaves are leathery with a primary color of yellow (RHS 12A) and a secondary color of olive green (RHS 146A), whereas the young leaves are golden yellow (RHS 12A). Leaf blades are narrowly elliptical and big (5.5–10.2 cm in length and 2.1–4.0 cm in width), connected with long petioles (0.5–1.4 cm), with coarse crenations at their margins. Leaf bases are cuneiform, and the apexes are acuminate (Fig. 2).
Each cymose inflorescence bears 7 to 15 small, purplish red axillary flowers growing inconspicuously on the current year’s branchlets. Each flower has four obovate–oblong petals (3.9–4.0 mm in diameter), which are slightly connate at the base. Each flower has four degenerated stamens and a prominent pistil. The pistil has a conical ovary capitate stigma. In Jiangsu Province, the plant starts to blossom in mid-May, and the flowering period can last 9 d.
The fruit are shiny red at maturity, ellipsoid, 10 to 12 mm long and 6 to 8 mm wide, and have prominent persistent stigma. The fruit ripens in mid-November and can persist throughout the winter until the following March.
‘Mopan Jinguang’ is regenerated primarily through grafting I. chinensis seedlings as rootstocks in spring. The scion is selected from the current year’s branch with healthy and plump axillary buds. The rootstock is split down the middle to a 2.5- to 3.5-cm depth. The scion is cut into a wedge ∼1.5 to 2.5 cm long, with one side slightly thicker than the other, and is then inserted into the slit and carefully lined up with the cambium layers. The grafted scion is wrapped with plastic film, which should be removed when the scion is firmly attached to the stock plant.
Furthermore, the cultivar can also be propagated through hardwood cuttings. Thick and healthy annual branches were selected in autumn or winter and cut into 10- to 15-cm-long cuttings. Cuttings were treated with 3000 ppm indole-3-butyric acid for 8 to 10 s, resulting in rooting percentages of 70% to 80% after 6 weeks.
‘Mopan Jinguang’ grows well in full sun to partial shade; yellow variegation is expressed more intensely in full sun. The cultivar is readily adapted to various soil types, with well-drained acidic soil being ideal. It can survive in the US Department of Agriculture hardiness zone 8b to 10. Transplantation with the soil ball in early spring are recommended, followed by thorough irrigation. Proper pruning and shaping of plants are necessary as needed. Fertilize adequately during the growing season and stop fertilizing in the hot summer. Pests or diseases did not cause significant problems, and only a few incidents of leaf spots were observed.
‘Mopan Jinguang’ is available in China from the Jurong Mopan Mountain Forestry Farm. Requests for grafted seedlings for research purposes may be addressed to Hong Chen or Wenjie Fan.
Comparison of leaf attributes of Ilex ‘Mopan Jinguang’, Ilex chinensis, and Ilex ‘Sunny Foster’.
Phenotypic characteristics of ‘Mopan Jinguang’. (A) Upright growth habit with a semiopen canopy. (B, C) Leaves and twigs.
Contributor Notes
This work was supported by the Opening Fund of the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources (grant no. JSPKLB202312) and the Central Financial Forestry Science and Technology Demonstration Fund (grant no. SU[2023]TG08).
Comparison of leaf attributes of Ilex ‘Mopan Jinguang’, Ilex chinensis, and Ilex ‘Sunny Foster’.
Phenotypic characteristics of ‘Mopan Jinguang’. (A) Upright growth habit with a semiopen canopy. (B, C) Leaves and twigs.
