Trees & woodland lore · Western North Carolina field companion
Hybrid holly
Ilex aquifolium × Ilex cornuta
Whole tree — Ilex. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeRandy Harter ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.
Problems to recognize in WNC gardens. These are documented susceptibilities, not a local outbreak report or a diagnosis. Weather, elevation and growing conditions change the risk.
Diseases & similar-looking injury
Leaf spots and root problems can occur; yellowing may also reflect unsuitable soil pH or drainage.
Insects to recognize
Scale and spider mites are useful to recognize. Some hollies also get leafminers, which leave pale winding or blotchy trails within leaves.
When to look
Inspect leaf undersides and twig scales in spring; check mites during dry summer weather.
A useful first step
Confirm the insect and correct drainage or soil problems before treatment. A sticky black coating often points to honeydew-producing insects.
More growing details
Read the leaves
Thick dark leaves often show a small number of prominent teeth; leaf variation prevents a certain cultivar ID from one image.
Read the bark
Gray bark becomes more textured with age.
Fruit & seed
Round red drupes may be showy; fruit color does not distinguish most garden hollies.
Winter character
Evergreen foliage and dense branching are available year-round.
Origin & place
An introduced garden species or horticultural hybrid; study it as part of WNC landscapes rather than assume it belongs to the native mountain flora.
WNC Notes
A cultivated holly hybrid. Allow room for the mature crown; fruit production and growth vary among garden trees.
Sun Exposure
Full sun–part shade
MATURE HEIGHT (FT)
15–30
MATURE WIDTH (FT)
8–25
BLOOM SEASON
Spring
BLOOM COLOR
White
FALL / WINTER COLOR
Evergreen; red fruit
Wet-Soil Tolerance
High
Drought Tolerance
High
At Lynn’s Nursery · Nellie R. Stevens
Ilex × Summer/Fall 2026 catalog. Confirm current availability with the nursery. Mature height × width: 15–25 ft × 8–12 ft. Light: Full sun to part shade. Habit: Dense, pyramidal evergreen. Flowers & season: Small white flowers; spring; red berries. Screen or specimen; allow room and consider berry drop.
LOOK CLOSELY
Two views, a closer look.
Place two photographs beside one another. Compare the overall plant with leaves, flowers, or bark when those views are available. Captions identify what each photograph actually shows. Images are not at the same scale; species references may show different cultivars.
Whole tree — Ilex. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeRandy Harter ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.Species reference; does not confirm the named variety. Photograph subject: flower with bee, NC☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeCathy Dewitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.Ilex x. Taxon reference; photograph alone does not establish a named cultivar.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeJohn Paul Endicott ↗ · CC BY 2.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; no diagnostic content altered.Red fruit of holly — species reference; cultivar identity not inferred.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeRandy Harter ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.
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