I was wondering if I took clippings from Illex verticillata, Winterberry, and rooted them, what sex will the new growth be? Does the answer hold true for other Holly?
I know I am sometimes silly but this time it was a serious question. I guess no one knows the answer or maybe there is no answer to my question. :-D I will look in other places and let you know if there is one.
Hi Barb,..just spotted your query,..i don't think anyone is about at the moment,..i found the article below which might be of interest to you though it stated each flower is of only one sex as is each tree,..so to pollinate you need one of each sex,..one male tree will pollinate up to eight female trees,..the latter info i came across elsewhere. I could be wrong but i imagine that a cutting from a male tree would remain male as would the female tree and this would also apply to Holly. Ilex verticillata Winterberry PFAF Plant Database Philip
Philip Nulty, Thank you....I haven't learned much about how you get the right sex when taking clippings. I will continue investigating.
Barb, I would think that it would be impossible for a plant to change its sex during propagation. If you have a male it would stay a male plant not mutate into a female or vice versa. At least I have never heard of that happening. The only thing you need to know is if it is a male or a female if you want berries on a specific plant. The flowers are going to have different parts, but you have to wait until it actually flowers to examine the flower parts, unless you already know what you have. You don't need a 1:1 ratio of male to female. I think it is 1:8. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 853AAinGBp
Thank you carolyn keiper. Very good info. I just got one with berries(female)on it and would like it to keep producing for the birds. I will have go make sure I get a male soon.
If any neighbors have a male plant you are good to go. If your pollinators are honey bees they have quite the range. Native bees have a closer to home range, but still travel a block or so. I know our neighbors holly and filberts get well fertilized and have lots of nuts and berries. My female Japanese skimmia never had berries before because I didn't have a male. Bought both a male and another female. Hoping for some berries this year though, even though the one female is about 40 feet away. We'll see.
