Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ (conical form)

Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ (conical form)

Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens' is an evergreen shrub highly prized for elegant, tapered appearance, glossy foliage and decorative red fruits which persists in winter. It is an excellent choice for residential gardens, entrances, formal hedges or as a solitary plant.

Main features

• Port: conical, dense, well branched

• Dimensions at maturity: 3–5 m high, 2–3 m wide

• Growth: medium to fast

• Foliage: persistent, dark green, glossy, with slightly spiny edges

• Fruits: intense red berries (very decorative in winter)

• Type: ilex hybrid, self-fertile (no pollinator required)

Advantages

• Keeps foliage all year round

• Very decorative in winter, when most plants are colorless

• It lends itself excellently to trimming and maintaining the conical shape

• Resistant to cold and urban pollution

• Ideal for vertical accents in landscaping

Planting conditions

• Exposure: sun or partial shade

• Soil: fertile, well drained, slightly acidic

• Watering: regular in the early years; once established it is moderately drought resistant

• Maintenance: minimum; light pruning in spring to keep shape

Uses in landscaping

• Decorative solitary plant

• Elegant alignments or representative entrances

• Noble-looking evergreen hedge

• Combinations with conifers, buxus, yew or decorative winter plants