ilex aquifolium golden king

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

Ilex aquifolium Golden King is a striking, evergreen holly prized for its bright, variegated foliage and architectural form, making it a standout addition to New Zealand gardens. This easy-care shrub offers a year-round display, with glossy green leaves edged in golden yellow and a subtle hint of spines. While its name suggests royalty, Golden King is actually a female variety, producing small, red berries if a male holly is nearby. Perfect for hedges, screens, specimen planting, or containers, Ilex aquifolium Golden King thrives in a range of conditions and brings colour and structure to even the dullest corners of your outdoor space.

Ilex Golden King

Ilex Golden King, Golden King Holly, English Holly Golden King, Ilex aquifolium Golden King, Ilex Golden, Ilex altaclerensis Golden King, Ilex x altaclerensis Golden King, Golden King Holly Tree, Golden Ilex

Ilex Golden King is a variety of English Holly that is a densely foliaged, evergreen shrub that carries spiny, glossy green leaves with a golden-yellow margin. Small, white, mildly fragrant flowers are produced in spring and result in distinctive, large red berries which attract birds. It typically grows to 3 m tall and 2 m wide. The coarse texture and colour sets Ilex Golden King apart from other landscape plants making it ideal for mixed plantings, hedging or screening, for contrasting with other foliage types, or for use as a backdrop for smaller plants.

Ilex Golden King

Suited to regions:
All regions
Plant type:
Shrubs
Height:
3.00 m
Spread:
2.00 m
Flowering time:
Spring
Tolerances:
Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses:
Hedging, Screening, Topiary
Garden styles:
Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern

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Why Choose Ilex aquifolium Golden King for Your Garden?

Golden King offers unique benefits as a garden shrub. Its cheerful edge of gold brightens borders and provides a bold contrast to deep green foliage. The dense growth habit ensures privacy and wind protection, ideal for creating formal hedges or informal screens. Unlike many hollies, Golden King is tolerant of pruning, allowing you to shape it to suit your space. This low-maintenance shrub is also resistant to most pests and diseases, making it an excellent choice for both experienced gardeners and newcomers.

Planting and Care Tips

Ilex aquifolium Golden King enjoys a spot in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to most well-drained soils. For optimal leaf colour, plant in a location where it receives morning sun. Once established, Golden King is drought-tolerant and only requires moderate watering during dry spells. Prune in late spring or early summer to encourage bushier growth and maintain your preferred shape.

If you’re building a hedge, space plants about 50 to 80 cm apart. For berry production, consider pairing with another Ilex variety like Ilex aquifolium Angustifolia. Mulch annually to promote healthy root growth and suppress weeds, and feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring to support vibrant foliage.

Complementary Plants for Variegated Borders

Ilex Golden King pairs beautifully with other holly varieties and evergreen shrubs. For slender architectural accents, try Ilex Sky Pencil, another Ilex with a distinctive upright form. Or add texture with Ilex crenata Convexa (Japanese Holly) and Ilex crenata Helleri. For vibrant companions, consider Hebe subalpina (Subalpine Hebe), Westringia Morning Light, or the cheerful foliage of Pittosporum Mellow Yellow.

Flowering shrubs such as Fuchsia 'BreeVis Cleone' and Escallonia 'Pink Pixie' provide seasonal colour, enhancing the golden tones of your Ilex aquifolium Golden King. For landscape structure, Ilex Largo is an excellent complement in larger plantings.

Discover the Versatility of Ilex aquifolium Golden King

Whether forming a formal hedge, adding a colourful focal point, or creating wildlife-friendly borders, Ilex aquifolium Golden King brings versatility and year-round appeal to New Zealand gardens. Grow this hardy, beautiful holly to enjoy vivid golden foliage, seasonal berries, and classic style, all with minimal fuss. Explore our full range of hollies and companion shrubs to design your perfect garden landscape.

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Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.