Crowding and other poor culture issues.

I suggest that the nursery is the culprit. But generally speaking, plants respond to their growing environment and culture.

Factors that can affect a plant's health are too numerous to list and it can take a bit of detective work to determine the causes of problems.

I will say that Nellie R. Stevens is one of the easiest plants to grow in most environments, including in a nursery setting. Are you aware of how huge they can become?

you would really need to give us some pix ... so we could opine on the whole situation of a given plant ....

we all know how a well planted plant.. in perfect cultural conditions should grow ...

but to speculate on why a certain plant doesnt THRIVE .... we need to see it ...

i would throw lack of full requisite sun in the equation .. along with those listed above ...

the plants at the local nursery.. were probably in shock .. stressed ... either from improper treatment after field growing and potting.. or grown in the pot too long .. potting issues ...

the real issue sounds like a nursery that doesnt know how to deal with its stock .... i would find a better source ..... perhaps even ordering in winter delivery stock.. for planting in spring ... late fall stock is often less than perfect.... unless significantly discounted ....

ken

Check out this article about dicambra drift: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/09/27/651262491/a-drifting-weedkiller-puts-prized-trees-at-risk

Hi everybody, thanks for those answers.

I didn't take a picture of the plant at the nursery, but I did find some examples on the internet. These are all Nellie Stevens holly and they each look different, and I'm wondering, why do they look so different, and what can I expect if I plant it in my yard?

My goal is to have a dense, dark-green, tough plant that will provide complete privacy year-round, that likes native clay soil, is pest- and disease-resistant, and that doesn't mind being 6 feet from a busy street. Bottom-left picture would disappoint me due to it being semi-see-through.

If Nellie Stevens holly can't provide what I need in my area, I am open to recommendations.

>Why do they look so different?<

Variations in age and site conditions.

I'll tell you, depending on where your at in LA the soil can differ a ton. You say you have clay, but most of LA, like 90% isn't clay but sandy loam. Similar to Florida with more rain and cool. Lack of water here that penetrates deep is the #1 culprit. How is that possible with sand and rain? Sand doesn't retain water and the rains are frequently light and only wet the top 2 inches making everything green but its referred to as green drought.

Also wanted to add fertilizers are a big thing not to mention plant selection. You mention Hollies which most tend to do well here given a site that has a low PH and camellia/azalea style fertilizer or pinebark/straw mixed into planting. Sycamores like the Hollies differ. Many plant breeders that specilize in trees like Sycamores don't come from the south. So a sycamore from an offspring of say one around here thats lineage has been here 300 years will be much more well adapted than say the same tree that came out of Wisconsin. Sycamores also take a little while to get going and the beginning 10 years are more important than some trees "but I would argue that with just about every tree the first years are the most important "shaping, fertilizing properly, adequate water, withholding for natural drought cycle" Granted I am trying to espalier three southern magnolias keeping them in the 12 foot range at the moment :). Also if your in COSTAL Alabama it can vary wildly. EX gulf shores is zone 9 where Bay Minette is zone 8. Bay minette is mostly piney clay with not as much wind and has vastly different climates than Gulf Shores even though they are an hour away. There are a ton of microclimates here and figuring out your yards is the key here. Ex we get more west sun most people read full sun and think full sun. Full sun here isn't often the best for most stuff. Afternoon shade is....

I only say this because I would love to have a couple of Sycamores on the property but have pretty darn sandy soil and a lot of wind. If I was about 5-10 more miles inland I could have a small grove, but instead I opted for cypress as they take the salt better.

>pinebark/straw mixed into planting<

Apply as mulch rather than amendment, amending of soil for permanent plantings is a dis-proven practice. With the detrimental effects it produces being seen in organized experiments by the late 1960's.

>So a sycamore from an offspring of say one around here thats lineage has been here 300 years will be much more well adapted than say the same tree that came out of Wisconsin<

Northern grown material wouldn't necessarily have significantly different genetics. It depends on the details of the individual situation, including how much Platanus actually do vary genetically throughout their wild ranges.