Description: This pretty, open shrub or small tree has shiny elliptical evergreen leaves that look more like mountain laurel than holly. The fruits dangle invitingly on long stems like small Christmas tree ornaments and last well into the winter. As male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, both are needed for polination. Ilex pedunculosa is one of the hardiest of all the fruit-bearing hollies. It is also heat and wind tolerant.

Requirements: Shallow-rooted and easy to transplant, longstalk holly does equally well in full sun or light shade. Like all hollies, it prefers slightly acid soil and benefits from a mulch of aged wood chips of leaves. Tolerant of air pollution, it even withstands salty seaside winds.