Small, upright, relatively fast growing evergreen tree (H 5-7 m, W up to 3-4 m). Crown broadly conical, very dense, regular. Leaves broadly egg-shaped to rhomboid (6-8 cm), with a sparsely, but sharply serrate margin, smooth, glossy, dark green. Flowers tiny, white, a female variety, needs a polinator (as Ilex cornuta, male plant). Flowering period: May. Fruits elongate round, large (0,8-1 cm), fleshy, at first orange-red, ripe bright red. Ripening time: October-November, many frutis, they persist on branches long into winter, decorative. Requires deep, light, sufficiently drained, humus-rich soils, in sunny to half-shady sites. Easily withstands pruning. Ilex × 'Nellie R. Stevens' is a cross between I. aquifolium and I. cornuta.
Plants from this group grow equally good in different positions, regardless of solar radiation. Usually they need more moisture in sunny than in shady undergorwth and they can bloom more exuberant.
Decidious have woody stems (i. e. tree trunk and branches) and are also called woody plants or trees. Leaves are normally broad, soft and thin.
Leaves or needles remain on the plant for several consecutive years, usually 2 to 5 years. Our descriptions contain the word evergreen.
Plant can in otherwise appropriate environment survive cold down to - 23 °C.
Porous or dry soils are normally light and loose, there is no stagnant water but relatively quickly flows in deeper layers; such ground are more airy and warmer, yet drier and usually contain less humus and for such undergrowth it is often to for drought to appear (e. g. rockgardens, walls, by paths and roads, on gravel, also on gravel surface in towns and close to buildings ...), plants of such undergrowth need well-drained soil, they tolerate drought but cannot tolerate constant moisture or even flooding.
Fruits of these plants are not edible for humans, so are not to be consumed. They may have important ornamental value or provide food for some wild animals (e. g. singing birds). Regarding edibility and/or healing power we are not liable, in this matter seek for professional guidance before consumation or usage.
Woody plant, normally with a remarkable tree trunk and a tree top. May have several stems - multistemmed tree. The tree top may be of different shapes, dense or thin, symetric or uneven. Most trees reach a height of more than 3 metres.
