Holly Red Beauty

* Common name: Holly Red Beauty(R)

* Botanical name: Ilex x ‘Rutzan’

* What it is: A naturally neat, compact evergreen holly that grows into a tight pyramid with little or no pruning. When pollinated by a male blue holly, this mini-tree is covered with pea-sized, bright-red berries in fall and winter. Arguably the biggest fruiter of any evergreen holly.

* Size: Grows 7 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide in a dozen years.

* Where to use: Excellent specimen for flanking doorways, house corners, foundations between windows and really in any formal situation where you need an upright. Also useful as deck or patio screening. Sun to part shade.

* Care: Keep soil consistently damp for first few years until roots are established, then it’s drought tolerant. Can be lightly pruned or sheared to neaten anytime spring through August. Plant a male blue holly such as ‘Blue Prince’ nearby to ensure good fruiting (one for every five ‘Red Beauties’). Fertilize each spring with Holly-tone or Holly-Care. No spraying needed.

* Great partner: Any short to mid-sized golden perennial, such as daylilies, black-eyed susans, threadleaf coreopsis or mums. Plant golden daffodils around ‘Red Beauty’ for spring color.