This eye-catching evergreen shrub is a handsome cultivar of the Red Holly series. This Oak Leaf Holly tree variety came from the seeds of Ilex 'Mary Nell' female plant. The male plant from cross pollination is unknown. It boasts attractive new growth of spiny leaves that emerges bronze-to-burgundy, then ages to emerald green, The foliage will stay dark greenish white colored with year round interest. Its dark green foliage is distinctive and charmingly similar in shape to that of an oak tree, which is where it got its name. The Oakleaf Holly tree is a tall elegant hybrid holly featuring a pyramidal form. As the tree reaches maturity, the lower branches lose their vertical turgidity, giving the tree an upright pyramid shape. Can grow up to 14 ft. tall and 8 ft. W with a growth rate of up to 2 ft. per year. Unlike many other American hollies, the Ilex Oakleaf will set bright red berries without needing a pollenizer because it has both male and female flower parts in each flower. These orange red pea sized berries attract many different kinds of animals including deer and birds. Before the berries, creamy white flowers with a yellow-ish hue appear in early spring (March-May). Our evergreen nursery loves these holly bushes for their shape and form. It is especially easy to manage oak leaf holly pruning. A simple prune yearly will suffice to maintain the desired size and shape.