American Holly 'Mt. Vernon'

Ilex opaca 'Mt. Vernon' is often confused with Ilex opaca 'Lake City'. 'Mt. Vernon' was found in the early 1940's in woods near Mount Ver...Read Morenon estate in Virginia. The original tree was 18 feet tall and was propagated and distributed to several nurseries in eastern U.S. at that time. 'Mt. Vernon' was once grown by Beautiful Gardens in North Carolina from the 1970's to early 1990's, but the trees were destroyed for farmland after the owner died. I believe my two plants are true to name since they have "exceptionally long leaves" (4 inches long) a "dark green" color, and large globose red fruit (orange-red fruit). The fruit color becomes glossy deep orange in late October, then brilliant orange-red, and becomes dark orange in late January.The leaves are reported a lighter green when grown on the sandy coastal plain in southern North Carolina, but are exceptionally beautiful dark green here in central Virginia.