One of my least favored plants are hollies. They are harsh, unruly and typically only shaped well if they receive constant attention by arbitrary trimming or shaping, and then you have a nice mess. Even proper pruning, which I promote and perform, can only do such much, over time. Most hollies I find, short of those in a well-placed location, need to go.
Hollies line many a home's foundations in this area. I have pruned the exterior and interior of many a holly only wondering if the owner would rather remove the plant - many have, thankfully. I have removed more hollies from the ground in the last few years, even more than dying indian hawthorns. There are so many other plant options for foundations or plant beds.
Then, I ran into the Nellie Stevens holly - a large shrub, tree in appearance, which has this beautifully consistent pyramidal shape like that of a conifer, such as a cypress, yet more full, more robust. The leaves are softer than most hollies. They are truly deep green even in the hottest of climes, which makes for a wonderful backdrop for its deep-red berries.
Once established, this girl is tough as nails and can grow in full-sun to shade, and she does so without much care. Pay attention to her the first few months, and sit back and enjoy.
Coming from a guy who typically hates hollies (I have worked on many.) or where they are placed, about as much as weeds, the Nellie Stevens is such a gift...a joy.
Nellie Stevens is often used to create screens or to pronounce a perimeter, or she can be placed as a specimen not-far-from/not-too-close to a home or in the midst of a lawn.
Nellie Steven thrives in our hardiness zone and she is a fast grower - two to three feet a year. They have a mature height of 15 to 25 feet and a spread of 5 to 10 feet.
There are many of plants which can be planted near them to accent their shape and color. A few evergreens I love to pair near them are Golden Mop False Cypress, Cryptomeria Globosa Nana, Dystilium and Soft Caress Mahonia. The latter two produce small, but colorful flowers. Who knows? Throw in your favorite rose or a few colorful annuals. Most anything is possible.
I usually love to prune for health reasons and for a more natural look, but would I love to shape a holly like the following? Hell, yes! It's rare to give a holly that soft shape, but that's what Nellie Stevens offers. I probably wouldn't do the gum drop thing, but I'd have fun with her, nonetheless.
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