What is the difference between boxwood and holly? Is it the same plant?

Boxwood and holly are not the same plant.

First, the morphological characteristics are different.

1. Morphological characteristics of Ilex pubescens: the bark is gray or light gray, with longitudinal grooves, light green branches and no hair. Leaves are thin leathery, narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, the apex is acuminate, the base is wedge-shaped, the edge has shallow circular serrations, and it is dry, reddish brown and shiny. Petals purplish red or lavender, rolled outward. Fruit elliptic or subglobose, crimson at maturity.

2. Morphological characteristics of Buxus buxus: shrub or small tree, 1-6 meters high; Branches are cylindrical, longitudinally ridged, light gray and white; Branchlets quadrangular, completely pubescent or glabrous on both surfaces. Leather leaves, wide oval, wide obovate, oval or oblong, bright leaves, prominent midvein, usually with fine hairs in the lower part. Inflorescence axillary, capitate, dense, male flowers ca. 10, without pedicels.

Outer sepals are ovoid, inner sepals are nearly round, 2.5-3 mm long, hairless, stamens are 4 mm long, with anthers, sterile pistils have rod-shaped stems, and the top is enlarged; Pistil sepals 3 mm long, ovary slightly longer than style, glabrous. Capsule subglobose. It blooms in March and bears fruit in May-June.

Second, different growth habits.

1. Growth habit of Ilex: Ilex is a subtropical tree species. It likes warm climate and has a certain cold tolerance. Suitable for growth in fertile, moist and well-drained acid soil. More tolerant to shading, germination, pruning, etc. Strong anti-carbon dioxide ability. It often appears in mixed forests on hillsides, and is born in evergreen broad-leaved forests and forest margins on hillsides at an altitude of 500 ~ 1000 meters.

At the same time, holly is also suitable for planting alone on the lawn. It can be planted on both sides of doorways, walls and garden roads, or scattered on overlapping stones and hills. Holly is often dwarfed by old piles or growth inhibition, and used to make bonsai.

2. Growth habit of Buxus buxus: Buxus buxus likes fertile and loose loam, can adapt to slightly acidic soil or slightly alkaline soil, and can grow in calcareous soil. Potted plants can be mixed with mature pastoral soil or humus soil, and appropriate amount of chaff ash can also be added. Resistant to sun and shade, it can maintain good growth under general indoor and outdoor conditions.

In a long-term cool environment, leaves can remain green, but it is easy to lead to long branches or weak branches. It will be wet and rainy for about a month, but it should be avoided for a long time. Drought tolerance, as long as the surface soil or basin soil is not completely dry, there is no abnormal performance.

Third, the distribution range is different.

1. Distribution range of Ilex: Ilex is distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions in both hemispheres, mainly in Central and South America and tropical Asia.

2. Boxwood distribution: Jiangsu, Gansu, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong and other provinces.

Baidu encyclopedia-holly

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