CARDINAL 
ILEX OPACA 
See Front Cover—Actual Photograph, Colored 
CARDINAL has quite an ordinary leaf and without berries would 
hardly merit a name, yet it is absolutely my most valuable Holly. 
Berries! No Holly has ever been propagated that bears like CARDI- 
NAL. They weigh the limbs down and even when green are more promi- 
nent than the leaves. In winter you hardly see the leaves. At a distance 
it shows as a red mass—hence its name. People seeing it the first time 
hardly believe it is a Holly until they examine closely. 
A slow, compact grower, it is not a dwarf but fits in wonderfully where 
space is limited. Many people would like to have a Holly but feel they 
haven't the room for it. This is just where CARDINAL fits in. It does not 
overgrow, but has so many berries that it somehow always looks larger 
than it really is. Bears younger, too. Plants two feet high often have 
as many berries as most Hollies of ten feet. 
A few months ago a lady told me she would like CARDINAL, but 
just could not find room for a companion. I learned she was friendly 
with her neighbor, so suggested she buy a male Holly and present it to 
the neighbor as a gift. The idea pleased and a sale was made on the 
spot. Since then I have sold the plan to others who have very limited 
space. 
CARDINAL is very adaptable. It has been sold to go along the sea- 
shore, in the mountains, in gardens big and little, and always it pro- 
ceeds to grow slowly, shape up well and bear berries. Makes very little 
propagating wood so is scarce. The demand for this wonderful Holly is 
always way ahead of the supply. 
Hardy, the mother tree came from Massachusetts. 
More Hollies have been planted the last five years than dur- 
ing the preceding 50 years. Better nursery-grown stock has done 
much to further this. 
