Emily Bruner Holly. In my opinion, this is one of the more majestic holly selections for both foliage and berry. It is a cross between Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii' and Ilex latifolia and was introduced by noted plantsman and nurseryman, Don Shadow of Winchester, TN. Dr. Michael Dirr records in his reference: "Don tells the story how a lady brought a plant into the greenhouse when he was an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee. Don knew this plant was special and acquired the plant. Dirr mentions that 'James Swan' is the male pollinator for 'Emily Bruner', but we have never had this cultivar on our property, and all of our Emily Bruner's bear copious crops of brilliant red berries every year. So apparently, it is easily pollinated by many different male selections. In case you think that there are no males hollies nearby, our Ilex 'Adonis' would make an excellent pollinator and it takes on a gorgeous pyramidal form as well. 'Emily Bruner' takes on a magnificent pyramidal form with hardly any pruning. But a little trimming is beneficial to make a tidy handsome specimen in its early years. It will mature in the 25-30 ft. range. My sister has one on a berm in her garden that she decorates yearly at Christmas. The red fruit encircle the branches yearly, and they persist until the cedar waxwings have their banquet in late winter or early spring.
Zones 6-9
