Pruning Ilex decidua (Possumhaw holly)

The one I acquired had never been properly stakes and was lunging forward, covering my small patio area.

One year, at the beginning of February, I decided to cut it right back and start again. Yikes!

For a while afterwards, I was worried that it might not grow back but four months later, it started to sprout leaves.

Joy!

It's a female tree, and after 2 years it went back to producing bright red berries again.

So if anyone's wondering if holly trees can take a severe pruning, herein lies your answer.