Emily Bruner Holly is a large dense evergreen shrub with a broad pyramidal habit and spiny deep green leaves.  The clusters of inconspicuous flowers in spring need a male pollinator to give way to the heavy clusters of large bright red fruits in fall that lasts through winter.  Best planted in moist, slightly acidic well-drained soils.  Emily Bruner requires more nitrogen than other hollies to maintain its deep green foliage.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Low Maintenance.  Water regularly.   Well-drained soils essential.   Potential issues include mites, scale, leaf spot, rot, and mildew.  Susceptible to leaf scorch or drop if not protected from afternoon sun in hotter climates.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens,  Wildlife Gardens, Privacy Screen, Foundation Plantings, Hedges, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS: Pieris, Azalea, Hydrangea

IMAGES: Michael Rivera, Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, Evergreen Holly ilex 'Emily Bruner', CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) NC Extension Gardener, Randy Harter,  Leaf detail (Buncombe County, NC) CC BY 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown