Nellie Stevens Holly – Fast-Growing Evergreen with Red Berries

Nellie Stevens Holly – The Privacy Hedge That Earns Its Keep Year-Round

Picture a wall of deep, glossy green punctuated by clusters of bright red berries — standing between your yard and the world, looking beautiful in every season. That's the Nellie Stevens Holly: one of the most popular privacy hedges in the country, and for good reason.

It grows fast, stays dense, tolerates neglect, and rewards you with ornamental berries that birds can't resist. It's the rare plant that's both hardworking and genuinely beautiful.

Why Nellie Stevens Holly Belongs in Your Landscape

• Fast-Growing Privacy Screen: Can grow 3 ft. or more per year under good conditions, quickly forming a dense, impenetrable hedge that blocks sightlines and noise.
• Glossy Year-Round Foliage: Dark green, spiny leaves stay vibrant through winter — no bare branches, no seasonal gaps in your privacy.
• Ornamental Red Berries: Bright red berries appear in fall and persist through winter, adding color when most plants go dormant and attracting songbirds to your yard.
• Deer Resistant: The spiny leaves deter deer browsing — a major advantage in suburban and rural landscapes.
• Drought-Tolerant Once Established: Adaptable to a wide range of soils and conditions; low-fuss after the first season.
• Cold Hardy: Thrives in USDA Zones 6–9, handling heat, humidity, and mild winters with ease.

Perfect For

• Privacy hedges and living fences
• Property line screening
• Foundation plantings and borders
• Wildlife and pollinator gardens
• Windbreaks and noise buffers

Planting Tips

Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Space 5–6 ft. apart for a solid privacy hedge. Water regularly the first season to establish roots. Prune lightly in late winter to shape — avoid heavy pruning, which can reduce berry production.

Also Consider

Want to layer your privacy screen with another ornamental evergreen? Pair Nellie Stevens Holly with our Brodie Eastern Red Cedar — a tall, columnar evergreen with its own ornamental berries that creates a stunning multi-texture privacy planting.

Order Today

Available in multiple sizes from 8–10 inches up to 7 Gallon, with single and 2-pack options. Ships as a healthy, nursery-grown live plant. Add to cart and start building your perfect privacy hedge today.