It can if you have a bucket truck. The practicalities of pruning something 15 ft in the air aren't exactly trivial.

I have a long shaft articulating hedge trimmer and ladder, so maybe it will be like 12' or something like that. I just don't want it to be 40'.

Yaupon Holly (ilex vomitoria) is also highly deer resistant, evergreen, and native to Long Island. It is also a small tree that won't require the level of maintenance and pruning that you will eventually need for American Holly.

On the flip side, you'll have probably sold the house and moved before American Holly gets to 40'.

I thought I had investigated all of the Ilex that are native to Long Island, but I'm not familiar with that variety. I noticed a couple of comments on other sites stating that it's not cold hardy.... but I do see it's classified in zone 7. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll investigate.

Yaupon is borderline in upper zone 7. Some cold years it can freeze back. I do not believe it is native to Long Island, but I could be wrong.

Goodness, for zone 7 there are SO very many hollies that are better looking than American Holly.

Fosters #2 is nice, fast, good berries. Smaller leafed.

Nellie Stevens is the default holly planted here. Takes shearing very well, but does get TALL.

Look into 'Mary Nell'. Incredible leaf gloss and BERRIES, oh so many berries most years.

'Blue Maid' is a nice very hardy blue holly which grows slowly to 12 feet. It takes its time and will not need much pruning.

Castle Wall is a very upright grower. (another Blue Holly).

Chindo Viburnum might be worth looking into, if it's hardy in your area. Fast grower, very glossy, no spines.

This post was edited by dave_in_nova on Mon, Sep 16, 13 at 9:43

I agree there are a lot varities of Ilex that I would be prefer to grow, but many are not deer resistant. In fact, deer have devastated most varieties around here. The only one that I hear might be tollerant is dragon lady which is pretty narrow. American holly is one of the few that has been consistently safe. If anyone has other suggestions on deer resistant holly, I would be interested. Thanks

I maintain my Ilex Opaca at about this height (15'), but it grows in a "T" shape.

Interesting, I've never seen one with a T shape ... I actually went to the nursery to purchase the Holly yesterday and after an explanation of what I was doing, they talked me out of using them in that location. So, I'm now considering using a smaller variety of the Colorado Blue Spruce called Baby Blue. Supposed to get to about 20' H & 8' W .... We'll see. Thanks