Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Holly

Family: Aquifoliaceae (Holly family)

Distribution: Asia

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Life form: Evergreen tree

Comments: ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ is a hybrid holly. It typically grows as a large broadleaf evergreen shrub with a dense, conical form. It also can be trained to grow as a small tree. Oblong, glossy, dark green leaves have spiny margins. Small greenish-white flowers appear in spring, but are generally inconspicuous. Flowers give way to often abundant amounts of berry-like bright red fruit, which ripen in fall and persist into winter. Prune in winter if needed. ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ can bear some fruit without fertilization from a male pollinator because it is parthenocarpic. This plant has better heat tolerance than many of the hollies, and is a good selection for hot southern areas.