- Nellie Stevens Holly
Botanical name: ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’
Beginner friendly?: yes
Average size at maturity: up to 20 ft tall and 15 ft wide
Bloom time: blooms in the late spring, but takes 3-5 growing seasons to start producing flowers
Hardy zone: zones 6-9
Flower color: white/yellow/green
Foliage color: green
Growth rate: grows about 2 – 3 ft a year
Pruning instructions: trim in the early spring to maintain desired size and shape
Propagation methods: cut a stem just below a node and place in water until roots start to emerge
Landscape use: makes for a great privacy hedge
Light needs: 4 – 8 hours of sun a day
Special features: produces non-edible bright red berries
Watering instructions: allow soil to partially dry between watering sessions
Fertilizing instructions : fertilize in the early spring with a slow release fertilizer for broadleaf evergreens
Best time to plant: spring or fall
Best type of soil: adapts to all kinds of soil
Companion plants: geraniums, azaleas, begonias, impatients
Toxicity level: berries and leaves are toxic for humans (especially children) and pets when ingested
Invasive species: no
