Often misspelled as "Nelly" Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks
- Description
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'Nellie R. Stevens' is a hybrid cultivar of I. aquifolium and I. cornuta in the Aquifoliaceae family. 'Nellie R. Stevens' is typically grown as a large shrub which quickly reaches a mature height of 15 to 25 feet and width of 8 to 15 feet. Its dense and conical to pyramidal form allows it to be trained into a small tree, if the lower branches are removed.
This broadleaf evergreen is a vigorous drought, air pollution, and heat tolerant female clone that does better with southern summers than many other hollies. It is pollinated by I. cornuta but produces some fruit without a male pollinator. Though it can produce fruits without a male pollinator Ilex cornuta and 'Edward J. Stevens' are male hollies that can assist with pollination. The small flowers that appear in spring are attractive to bees and other pollinators and It is a heavy fruiter, with bright red berries that appear in the fall and remain through the winter, feeding a variety of birds. The glossy dark green leaves are leathery and have spinose teeth.
This plant does well in full sun to partial shade though it may need some protection from afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorch. It prefers rich, acidic, well-drained soil but tolerates a range of soil types including heavy clay. It is best to avoid wet sites. Prune this plant to shape in the winter.
Use this plant as a specimen or take advantage of its dense spiny foliage for a a barrier, hedge, or screen planting. Mass it in a woodland garden or plant along a foundation. The showy red fruits make for great winter interest and can add some height to the back of a border. Heavy fruit set of showy red berries make for great winter interest in any garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- Bullate leaves with 1-3 spines along each margin.
- Leaves consistently vary in number of spines.
- Abundant red fruits.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect pest that can be a problem include holly leaf miner, scale, spider mites, and whiteflies. Disease problems include leaf spot and powdery mildew. Under high pH soils chlorosis can occur.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - East Lawn and Lower Drive Border
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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 Location:
- Coastal
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Pollution
- Salt
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns