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Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens',
Nellie Stevens Holly

This is a dark green holly suited for planting in many Florida landscapes. A row of them makes one of the best screens available. Its tight growth habit, even in partial shade, makes it nice along the border of a property to block a view or provide protection from the wind. Place it far enough away from the patio so the bees are not a nuisance.

The cultural requirements are most likely similar to its parents, which means it adapts to a broad range of sunlight and soil pH. Plants tolerate poor drainage very well, but provide good drainage for best growth. This is a heavy fruiter. Killing point for young roots is 23 degrees F; for mature roots 14 degrees F. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people. Foliage is heavily browsed by deer.

Nellie R. Stevens Holly is one of the best Hollies for use as a screen for the edge of a property. It maintains a nice, uniform shape without pruning. It is now becoming widely available and is one of the best plants for making a screen due to its very dense, symmetrical habit. Locate it where it will have enough space to spread since trees become wide at the base. Lower branches can be removed to create a clear trunk for planting along a walk or near a patio, but the tree really shines as a specimen or screen allowed to develop with all branches intact to the ground. Trees are tolerant of urban conditions and those with one central leader have performed well as street trees.

Nursery operators grow the tree either as a multi-stemmed clump or with one central leader. Multi-stemmed trees may not hold up in ice storms as well as those with a central leader. Main branches on single-leadered trees are usually well-secured to the trunk, making the tree sturdy and a permanent fixture for almost any landscape.