Nellie Stevens Holly Pleached Tree (Ilex Attenuata 'Nellie R. Stevens')

Nellie Stevens Holly Pleached Tree Description

The Nellie Stevens holly pleached tree is a popular and versatile ornamental tree, prized for its dense, glossy evergreen foliage and formal, structured appearance when trained into a pleached form. This hybrid holly showcases vibrant dark green leaves with a distinctive spiny margin, which provides year-round interest and a robust backdrop for garden landscapes. In late spring to early summer, the tree produces small, inconspicuous white flowers that are attractive to pollinators, followed by striking clusters of bright red berries that appear in autumn and can persist into winter, adding seasonal colour and providing food for birds.

Pruning Advice

Pruning is essential for maintaining the health and shape of the pleached Nellie Stevens holly. Here are some key points to consider:

Timing: The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. This timing encourages fresh foliage and flowering.

Method: Start by removing any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to improve airflow and reduce the risk of disease. For pleached trees, carefully trim lateral shoots to maintain the desired shape and structure. It’s important to ensure that the pleached frame remains neat and balanced, so avoid over-pruning, which can lead to an uneven appearance.

Annual Maintenance: Regularly check the tree for signs of pests or diseases and adjust your pruning schedule as needed. Light trimming after the berry set can help maintain a tidy appearance and encourage bushier growth.

Further Information

Privacy and Screening: The dense foliage of the Nellie Stevens holly makes it an excellent choice for creating effective privacy screens or hedges. Its height and thick growth provide a natural barrier against noise and unwanted views, enhancing the intimacy of outdoor spaces.

Year-Round Interest: As an evergreen tree, the Nellie Stevens holly retains its lush foliage throughout the year, ensuring a vibrant and lively garden even in the colder months. The berries add a pop of colour during the autumn and winter seasons, providing visual interest when many other plants have lost their leaves.

Wildlife Friendly: The flowers attract beneficial pollinators, such as bees, while the red berries serve as a food source for birds and other wildlife, making it a valuable addition to any garden ecosystem.

Low Maintenance: Once established, the Nellie Stevens holly is relatively low maintenance, requiring minimal care. It is adaptable to a variety of soil types and conditions and shows good drought resistance once mature.

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.