Ilex • The Hollies 
The Hollies have been a hobby with us for a number of 
years and we have spared neither time nor expense in our 
efforts to assemble the finest collection of varieties obtain¬ 
able. We now feel we are justified in stating that our 
collection cannot be surpassed in the nursery trade, and 
we only wish it were possible to convey to our customers 
the sheer beauty of the many varieties listed below. This 
is utterly impossible, however, since mere words cannot do 
justice to the true beauty of these Aristocrats of the 
Garden. Our experience has been that all the varieties we 
offer for sale are hardy in this section and south of us. Of 
the evergreen species. Ilex opaca (American), 7. glabra, 
and I. Aquijolium are hardy as far north as Massachusetts 
and, also, /. crenata if somewhat protected. The deciduous 
Hollies all seem to be perfectly hardy. All of the Hollies 
prefer rich, well-drained soil but are adapted to almost 
any soil. The evergreen varieties do well in partial shade. 
Ilex Aquifolium. English or European Holly. 25 to 40 ft. 
The beautiful gardens of England contain many fine 
specimens and hedges of the English Holly. It is ever¬ 
green, with beautiful spined, shining leaves, and bears 
scarlet berries. An ideal lawn specimen and also an 
excellent hedge plant. Sheared specimens are often 
tubbed for formal effects. The foliage closely resembles 
that of Osmanthus Aquijolium, with which it is frequently 
confused. Its ability to withstand the smoke and soot 
of our towns and cities makes this very ornamental tree 
valuable for urban planting. 
I. Cassine. Dahoon Holly. 20 to 30 ft. A native of the 
southern seaboard states but is absolutely hardy here. 
It is a rather open-growing evergreen tree with pointed 
leaves about 2 to 3 inches long. The bright red berries 
are produced by the thousands and make the tree, when 
in fruit, one of the most attractive of the species. 
I. Cassine angustifolia. 20 to 30 ft. A narrow-leaf form of 
Cassine which bears more berries, if possible, than does 
the parent type. 
I. Cassine myrtifolia. Myrtle-leaved Holly. 20 to 30 ft. 
This Holly, with leaves both shorter and narrower than 
the parent form, is also a prolific bearer of berries, and 
no collection of Dahoon Hollies would be complete unless 
this variety were included. 
I. cornuta. Chinese or Horned Holly. 20 to 35 ft. Hailing 
from the Orient, the land which has contributed so 
many of our lovely ornamental plants, this Holly is com¬ 
paratively new, and is, in our opinion, one of the Aristo¬ 
crats of the Holly family. We regard it as a most beau¬ 
tiful addition to our collection as it is strikingly hand¬ 
some the whole year round. The large leaves, distinctly 
spined, are a brilliant shiny green throughout the year. 
Its large red berries are borne in heavy clusters. 
I. cornuta Burfordi. Burford’s Holly. 20 to 25 ft. An 
oriental Holly which is our very own, we introduce it 
with justifiable pride and release it with the prophecy 
that it will soon become recognized as the outstanding 
ornamental evergreen tree of the age. Its thick, deep 
green, almost spineless leaves are a feast for the eyes at 
all seasons, and, when the very large deep red berries 
appear in the fall, mere words cannot describe the super¬ 
lative beauty of this tree. 
I. crenata. Japanese Holly. Hailing from far-away Japan, 
this Holly has proved to be indispensable for the better 
type of planting. Its oval, dark green, glossy leaves 
closely resemble those of the boxwood, and the plant is 
equally reliable. It is ideal for foundation plantings, for 
grouping in masses, and for hedging. Unlike all the 
varieties described above, this Holly bears rather incon¬ 
spicuous blue-black berries. Ask any experienced plants- 
man to name three of the best broad-leaved evergreens 
for foundation planting, and we wager that this Holly 
will head the list. 
I. crenata rotundifolia. 8 to 10 ft. Larger, rounder leaves 
distinguish this plant from the Crenata. Some prefer it 
to the small-leaf type. 
I. decidua (Fraseri). Improved Possum-Haw. 12 to 15 ft. 
A deciduous Holly which loses its leaves in the early fall, 
but what a berry bearer! This little tree, with its spread¬ 
ing branches, does not need leaves in the winter for it is 
thickly studded with bright scarlet berries until the 
leaves again appear in the spring. 
I. glabra. Inkberry; Winterberry. 5 to 6 ft. This Holly is 
a native of our eastern states, making its habitat from 
Massachusetts to Florida, and is one of the hardiest 
members of the family. It is a much-branched, upright 
evergreen shrub with most pleasing foliage which turns 
a metallic purple in the fall. Reflected in the sunlight, 
its jewel-like black berries present a pleasing picture 
Ilex opaca Tree 
Ilex latifolia. 30 to 40 ft. Has large, glossy, evergreen 
leaves with serrated edges and red fruit produced in 
clusters. It is a beautiful plant and a rather unusual 
member of the Holly family as it lacks many of the 
characteristic traits. 
I. monticola. 30 to 40 ft. Another Holly native to our own 
mountains and a distinctive member of the Ilex family. 
It is deciduous, also, and bears beautiful red berries 
throughout the winter season. 
I. opaca. American Holly. 35 to 50 ft. This is the Holly 
that everyone thinks of when Christmas wreaths or 
decorations are suggested. Its evergreen branches, with 
dull red berries, are used throughout the country to 
make homes festive for the Yuletide season. It is a 
stately tree with short, spreading branches and will thrive 
in almost any soil. Some people are taking advantage of 
its rugged hardiness and are planting this Holly in large 
quantities on waste land for the purpose of selling the 
foliage and berries on the city markets. Our stock is 
grown from selected plants. 
I. opaca. East Palatka. 10 to 15 ft. A variety of garden 
origin, produced by crossing the Dahoon and the Ameri¬ 
can Hollies. Its evergreen leaves are practically spine¬ 
less. The deep red berries are borne in heavy clusters, 
ripen a month or so before those of other varieties of the 
American Holly, and persist on the tree until spring. 
It is truly a distinctive and beautiful addition to a dis¬ 
tinctive and beautiful family. 
I. opaca Howardi. 30 to 40 ft. Distinctive type of the 
American Holly bearing deeper and darker green foliage 
than other varieties of the Opaca group. A heavy 
bearer of deep red berries produced in abundant clusters. 
The rich shiny leaves of this variety are practically 
without spines. 
I. opaca, Hume No. 2. 30 to 40 ft. Another cross between 
the American and Dahoon Hollies. This variety is a 
stronger and more vigorous grower than East Palatka 
and makes a larger tree. Its berries are not so bright, 
however, as are those of East Palatka. It rivals the 
American Holly in vigor and in its growing habits, and, 
for that reason, we include it in this list of Garden 
Aristocrats. 
