Holly Nellie R Stevens Italian Plants (Ilex Nellie R Stevens)

Holly Nellie R Stevens Italian Plants Description

Holly Nellie R Stevens is a popular and hardy evergreen shrub, renowned for its striking glossy green leaves and profusion of bright red berries in winter. This vigorous, upright variety of holly is commonly used for creating formal hedges, privacy screens, or as a specimen plant due to its dense growth and attractive year round appeal.

Pruning Advice

Best Time to Prune: Prune Nellie R Stevens holly in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. This avoids cutting into fresh shoots and helps the plant recover quickly as the growing season starts.

Shaping and Maintenance: Regular pruning helps maintain a tidy, compact form. It responds well to pruning, so it can be shaped into a formal hedge or left to grow naturally for a more informal look. If used for hedging, prune annually to maintain its neat shape and density.

Remove Dead or Damaged Growth: Trim any dead, damaged, or diseased branches to encourage healthy growth and improve the overall appearance of the shrub. This will also help reduce the risk of pests or disease.

Avoid Over Pruning: While it is possible to prune it back quite hard, avoid cutting back too much, as this can reduce its ability to produce berries and affect its overall health.

Further Information

Year Round Interest: Nellie R Stevens provides year round colour and structure in the garden. Its glossy green leaves remain vibrant throughout the year, while the vibrant red berries provide a splash of colour during the colder months, particularly in autumn and winter when few other plants are in bloom.

Wildlife Friendly: The bright red berries are a valuable food source for birds in the winter, while the dense foliage offers shelter and nesting opportunities. However, it is important to note that the berries are toxic to humans if consumed.

Privacy and Protection: With its dense, upright habit, Nellie R Stevens is ideal for creating privacy screens or informal hedges. Its spiny leaves also act as a deterrent to intruders, making it a good choice for security planting.

Low Maintenance: This holly is hardy and relatively easy to care for, requiring little attention once established. It adapts well to a variety of growing conditions and can tolerate both sun and partial shade.

Pollination: Though it is a female cultivar and produces berries on its own, the berries are more abundant when planted near a male holly for pollination. This ensures better fruit production.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £9.98 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £24.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £350 | or £82 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £1500 | or £450 charge.