Is Pernyi Holly deer resistant?
Ilex pernyi
Occasionally damaged
Browsed where deer pressure is high. Protect it.
Rating source: Rutgers NJAES E271
Plant typeTreeHardinessZones 6–10LightPart shade
Mature height108–144 in
BloomSpringMaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Pernyi Holly
Small triangular leaves tightly set along stiff stems, giving an unusually neat architectural look for a holly. Slow, narrow, and useful in a confined space. Needs a male nearby for fruit.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 6.5
- Drainage
- Well drained
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 47 to 71 in apart
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
Tolerances and uses
- Evergreen
Similar to Pernyi Holly
Other trees with the same deer rating.
- Alternate-Leaved DogwoodCornus alternifoliaZones 3–7Occasionally damaged
- American PersimmonDiospyros virginianaZones 4–9Occasionally damaged
- AppleMalus sp.Zones 4–9, genus rangeOccasionally damaged
- Atlantic White CedarChamaecyparis thyoidesZones 3–9Occasionally damaged
- Atlas CedarCedrus atlanticaZones 6–9Occasionally damaged
- Bald CypressTaxodium distichumZones 4–9Occasionally damaged
Protecting Pernyi Holly
Whether this survives comes down to local pressure, so it is worth knowing the options before it gets browsed rather than after.
- Protecting a young treeBrowsing costs a season. A buck rubbing a two-inch stem in October girdles it and kills it outright.
- How tall a deer fence needs to beEight feet, and six is the most common expensive mistake in deer fencing.
- Repellent that actually worksThe egg-based recipe that reproduces the active ingredient in the commercial sprays that win university trials.
- Check it is actually deerDeer tear and leave a ragged stub. A clean 45-degree cut is rabbits, and slug holes get blamed on deer constantly.
Where Pernyi Holly grows
Hardy across most of these 46 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
Browse from here
Every list Pernyi Holly belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Pernyi Holly
- Is Pernyi Holly deer resistant?
- Pernyi Holly (Ilex pernyi) is rated Occasionally Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Browsed where deer pressure is high. Protect it.
- What hardiness zones does Pernyi Holly grow in?
- Pernyi Holly is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 10. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Pernyi Holly grow in shade?
- Yes. Pernyi Holly tolerates part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does Pernyi Holly get?
- Mature height is roughly 108–144 in. Growth rate is slow.
- Is Pernyi Holly toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Pernyi Holly as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.