Dr. Kaasab Holly

A hybrid Chinese holly, the Dr. Kassab holly was introduced by noted gardener Dr. Joseph Kassab in the years following his return from WWII. The result of cross pollination between a Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta) and a Perny Holly (Ilex pernyi) in Dr. Kassab’s Philadelphia garden, the hybrid has curving, soft dark green leaves that are not prickly like American hollies. All hollies are dioecious – meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The Dr. Kassab holly is female. As a female, the holly requires the presence of a male pollinator for berry production. Almost any male that flowers in the springtime will do. In addition to its tight clusters of red berries, the Dr. Kassab holly excels as a living fence and makes an excellent landscape specimen. The evergreen holly is pyramidal in shape and is tolerant of most soils.

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