Nellie R. Stevens Holly
| Qty | 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-39 | 40+ |
| Price per Plant | $22.50 | $8.00 | $6.50 | $5.00 |
279 in stock
Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’
The Nellie R. Stevens holly is a broadleaf evergreen renowned for its hardiness, vigorous growth, and consistently attractive form. First introduced to the nursery trade in 1954 by Gus A. Van-Lennep, Jr. of “Crooked Intention” Holly Nursery in St. Michaels, Maryland, the cultivar was named for Ms. Nellie R. Stevens of Oxford, Maryland, in whose garden it first appeared as a chance hybrid seedling. The plant’s origin was later brought to light by Ms. Stevens’s niece, Eunice Highley, who helped identify the hybrid parentage with the assistance of horticultural experts and the American Holly Society. Believed to be a natural cross between a Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) and an English holly (Ilex aquifolium), the Nellie R. Stevens holly combines the best traits of both parents—glossy, dark green foliage, a dense pyramidal habit, and heavy berry production. Uniquely, this cultivar is partially self-pollinating and also partially parthenocarpic, meaning it can produce fruit without the presence of a male pollinizer. Although not strictly necessary, berry production is greatly enhanced when a compatible male holly is nearby. The companion cultivar of choice is often the ‘Edward J. Stevens’ holly—its male counterpart discovered under the same circumstances and introduced by Van-Lennep at the same time. In spring, the Nellie R. Stevens holly produces fragrant white flowers that attract pollinators and later yield brilliant red berries that persist into winter, providing seasonal interest and a valuable food source for birds. Vigorous, adaptable, and visually striking, it remains one of the most popular hollies in American landscapes. Planting instruction can be found at boydnursery.net/arrival-care-notes/.
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| Diseases & Insects | Problem Free |
| Family | Aquifoliaceae |
| Flowers | Staminate in 3 to 9 flowered cymes; pistillate solitary, dull white; about the latest evergreen holly to flower around May; berry-like, dull red rounded drupe, fruit is borne singly on .25" long stalks, maturing in October and persisting into winter; fruit display can be spectacular with a strong pollenizer |
| Growth Rate | |
| Hardiness Range | zone 6a – 9b *need help finding your hardiness zone? |
| Leaves | Leaves are lustrous dark green, slightly bullate, with 2 or 3 teeth on each side; elliptic, and 1.5-3.5" long and half as wide |
| Plant Type | |
| Primary Features | |
| Sex | dioecious (Female) |
| Size | 20-30 feet tall at maturity with 10-12 foot spread |
| Sun Requirement |
What am I buying?
We sell Nellie R. Stevens Hollies as rooted cuttings. A rooted cutting is a young, living clone of a cultivated plant variety — genetically identical and sharing all the same desirable characteristics. Each cutting is propagated from our private stock and grown in a temperature-controlled greenhouse optimized to encourage strong, fibrous root development. Our cuttings are selected for viability — first and foremost defined by the quality of their root system. Each one is established in a well-formed root ball approximately 2 inches cubed, ready for transplant into a larger container. While overall plant height can vary with the natural growth of each cutting, most measure between 2 and 4 inches tall above the soil line at the time of shipment. On occasion, smaller cuttings may be selected when their root systems are especially well developed. This variation reflects the normal range of growth stages among healthy, actively rooting plants, rather than differences in quality. Typical cuttings are 3 to 6 months old and represent an ideal balance of youth, vigor, and transplant readiness.
When are plants collected?
Once your order is placed, your plants will be collected as soon as the weather permits. This time-frame is normally within 3-7 days. During heavy order periods (April-May), this collection time can grow to 10-14 days.
How are plants shipped?
All shipments are mailed via USPS Priority Mail using PirateShip.com. We monitor national weather conditions and temperatures for shipments. If at any time your order must be delayed for weather concerns, we will contact you by phone and/or email. The day that your order is completed or partially shipped, you will receive an email containing your package tracking number. You can also find this updated information by logging into your account on our website.
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