Ilex dimorphophylla ("Amamihiiragimochi")

Japanese name: アマミヒイラギモチ （奄美柊黐）
Scientific name: Ilex dimorphophylla

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub 2–4 m tall.
Young branches are densely hairy.
The leaves are simple and alternate, and their shape differs between young and mature trees.
The leaves of young trees are elliptical, 1.5–3 cm long, with a sharply spine-like tip, and the margins have 2–4 pairs of deeply cut teeth ending in sharp spines.
The leaves of mature trees are elliptic-round to obovate, 1–2 cm long and 0.8–1.5 cm wide, with entire margins.
The leaves of mature trees have a petiole 2–3 mm long.
The plant is dioecious.
In both male and female plants, 1–3 flowers are borne in clusters on very short spur shoots in the leaf axils of the previous year's branches.
The flowers are small, greenish white and 4-petaled.
The fruit is spherical, 6 mm in diameter, and ripens red.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or grafting.
Growing from seed is also possible, but plants raised from seed will turn out to be both male and female.
When sowing, harvest ripe fruit, wash off the pulp, bury the seeds in moistened vermiculite or similar so they do not dry out, and store them in a cool, dark place; take them out in March–April of the following year and wash them thoroughly once more before sowing.
It is suited to warm regions from the Kanto area southward.
It prefers well-drained, humus-rich, moderately moist soil in sun to partial shade.
It fruits better in a sunny position, but dislikes strong afternoon sun and dry places.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, watering is not necessary unless sunny weather continues and the soil becomes very dry.
In winter, apply compost by digging several holes around the plant and burying it.
Pests and diseases include sooty mold and scale insects.

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