Holly of the Year 2011

Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ chosen for 2011 is a magnificent holly that matures into a large tree at about 20 to 30 feet. It is a hybrid of Ilex cornuta and Ilex aquifolium and has existed for more than 100 years. The cross was made at the National Arboretum and was registered in 1969 by G.A. Van Lennep.

The leaves of “Nellie” are dark green and very glossy, Long and spiny. The branches are pendulous and the fruit are orange-red and ripen quite late.

One of the most popular tree hollies sold on the East Coast, ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ is hard to zone 6b.

Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'

Photo by William Cannon