Branchlets can be dotted with elongated lenticels. Strong sunlight intensifies the red new growth. Leaves holly-like, broad-elliptic to rhombic or obovate, mostly 2-8 cm, 2-5 cm wide, stiff, prominently veined, margins with 2-4 pairs of spine-tipped teeth, smooth; petiole 1-3 mm long. Useful as an understorey plant in rainforest plantings. Grown in gardens for its attractive, holly-like foliage, enjoys well-drained soil, extra nutrients and mulch but can tolerate neglect. Sooty mould can be a problem.

Foliage and fruit. Photo: Robert Whyte
Flowers and name
Alchornea after Stanesby Alchorne 1727-1800, a collector of British plants; ilicifolia from Latin “ilex” the great scarlet (holly) or Holm oak, Quercus ilex, and “folium” leaf because of the holly-like leaves.
Host plant for the Common Albatross butterfly Appias paulina ega.

Holly-like foliage. Photo: Robert Whyte
Fruit, seed and propagation

Photo: Robert Whyte
New foliage. Photo: Robert Whyte