At an HSA Board of Trustees meeting in 2002, someone suggested that the Holly Society begin recommending a "holly of the year." It would be an ideal way to bring superlative hollies to the attention of the public and to introduce gardeners and nurserymen to the existance of the Holly Society of America. In naming the program, the board honored the late Gene Eisenbiess, a holly expert from the National Arboretum who had done so much over the years to help the Society.
The committee in charge of selecting the Gene Eisenbeiss Holly of the Year try to pick out hollies that are available at a wide range of nurseries, would be easy to grow, and would be hardy in a number of USDA Hardiness Zones.
2006 Gene Eisenbeiss Holly of the Year
Ilex
× attenuata 'Sunny Foster'
Ilex × attenuata 'Sunny Foster' is the Gene
Eisenbeiss Holly of the Year
selection for 2006. It is an
outstanding example of an I. × attenuata holly, a hybrid of I.
cassine and I.
opaca that was first
described by Willard Ashe of
Walton County, Florida, in
1924. 'Sunny Foster' is a leaf
mutation of 'Foster No. 2'
that was discovered by William
Kosar at the National Arboretum.
It was named and registered
by Gene Eisenbeiss in 1982.
The unusual foliage is narrow,
about 1¾ inches
(4.4 cm) long and ⅝ inch (1.6 cm)
wide. If grown in full sun,
the leaves are butter yellow.
The plant is a female and bears
bright red berries that contrast
nicely with its yellow leaves.
'Sunny Foster' is slow growing
and makes a good highlight
plant. It normally grows in
a pyramidal shape but can be
used as an unusual topiary.
Sprigs can be cut for bright
leaves in wreaths and other
holiday arrangements. This
holly is hardy only to the
warmest parts of USDA
Hardiness Zone 6.
2003 'Satyr Hill' American Holly • 2004 'Sky Pencil' Japanese Holly • 2005 'Lassie' Koenheana Holly
2006 'Sunny Foster' Attenuata Holly • 2007 'Lewis' English Holly
2008 'Maryland Beauty' Winterberry Holly • 2009 Ilex 'Scepter'
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