There are many kinds of hollies, most (but not all) of which are evergreen. Hardiness, durability, attractive foliage, berries and low maintenance have contributed to making Hollies a staple in southern landscapes.

Some hollies stay short and are considered shrubs, while others grow tall and are treated as trees. Many produce attractive red berries in winter. There are hundreds of varieties but few basic forms. Some grow pyramidal in shape, some grow rounded while other have a weeping form.

'Nellie R. Stevens' Holly - Though there are a many hollies with an upright pyramidal form, Nellie R. Stevens is perhaps the all-time favorite of landscape designers and gardners. It typically reaches a height of about 25', spreads out about 15' at its base and has a pyramidal shape all of its own doing. It bears shiny, dark green leaves and round red berries. 'Nellie R. Stevens' holly maintains its pyramidal shape without much pruning and is usually not susceptible to pest damage, making it a low-maintenance plant. It is a wonderful tree for winter interest, both indoors and outdoors. Branches may be pruned, so that the clippings can be brought in and used for holiday decorations. Or just enjoy its evergreen leaves and red berries in the winter landscape.

'Burfordi' Holly - has glossy, evergreen leaves and produces a heavy crop of showy, large red berries in winter that l;ast into spring. The attractive bark is gray-green and the branches do not break easily. Burford Holly is a very adaptable, sturdy shrub or small tree. It is looks distinguished year-round and is useful for hedges and borders however we usually use it as a tree from specimen accent in the landscape.

Weeping Yaupon Holly - Weeping Yaupon Holly makes a very distinct, irregular, weeping form with its upright crooked trunks and slender, curved, pendulous branches clothed with small, oval, grey-green foliage. Capable of reaching 30 feet or more in height, Weeping Yaupon Holly is most often seen 15 to 20 feet tall with a spread of only 6 to 12 feet. The inconspicuous flowers appear in spring and are followed in fall and winter by a spectacular display of the translucent red berries which attract wildlife. Select plants with berries on them (females) if you want a berry-producing tree. We use weeping yaupon as a corner plant or against blank walls on taller homes or buildings, as a privacy screen or a tree form accent in the landscape.

Upright Yaupon Holly - This upright, spreading small evergreen tree or large shrub, capable of reaching 15 to 25 feet in height with a similar spread, has small, grey-green, leathery leaves densely arranged along smooth, stiff, light grey branches. Sometimes clipped into a tight hedge, Yaupon Holly is ideal for training into a small tree with lower branches removed to reveal the interestingly-contorted multiple trunks. It can also be used for topiaries, espaliers, specimens, screens, or barriers. The small flowers appear in spring and are followed on the female plants by the production of brilliant red berries which are quite attractive to wildlife. Select plants with berries on them (females) if you want a berry-producing plant, or buy trees which were propagated from cuttings of female plants.