Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks
- Description
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A hybrid of I. aquifolium and I. cornuta; this plant is a vigorous, drought and heat tolerant female clone. It is pollinated by I. cornuta but produces some fruit without a male pollinator. Nellie Stevens Holly is good as a large shrub or small, broad, pyramidal tree between 15' - 24 1/2' tall, if lower branches are removed.
This plant does well in sun to partial shade. It prefers well-drained soil but tolerates a range of soil types (heavy clay, damp). It is best to avoid wet sites. Its dense and conical form allows it to be trained into a small tree. This plant can be used as a barrier, hedge, foundation or screen, or for massing. It is a heavy fruiter, often without a pollinator, and has spinose teeth. This plant grows quickly and has pest problems.
Quick ID Hints:
- Bullate leaves with 1-3 spines along each margin
- Leaves consistently vary in number of spines.
- Abundant red fruit.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Mildly resistant to damage by deer, moderately salt tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Dense
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Abundance of bright red 1/3" globose berries. They fruit in fall and persist into winter. This plant is a female clone.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy, deep green leaves to 4" long that are attractive year-round. Leaves are alternate, simple, bullate, elliptic, and have 1-2 spines on each side. They have a terminal spine at the apex and often vary in the number of spines they have.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Pollution
- Salt
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
