It's a Holly. I am sure someone will be along to say which one. It will have had flowers because it can't have berries if it doesn't. They are quite small so you probably didn't see them. I can't comment on when to cut it in your region. I can do it any time in my climate. Holly tolerates heavy pruning.

But do need to bring the height down for security. Plus tie it in with the other landscaping we are planning.

==>>> think outside the box you have already created ...

if this were my project.. on only this partial pic of the front of the house.. i might begin the facelift by removing these monstrosities ... i mean dude ... they would be above the eaves if you let them ....

just think about it.. as an option ...

unless someone comes along and says you can not rejuvenate holly ... see link for some videos on how to do it... as you found it.. its not really a haircut type thing ...

but no matter what you do.. you can see the potential of this plant.. and with no insult to the massive root system ... you will be pruning on these things.. for the rest of your life.. or its life ....

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=rejuvenation+pruning+of+holly&t=ffnt&iax=1&ia=videos

ken_adrian - you do have a good point on having to prune this for the rest of it's/my existence, lol. While I'm at it, might as well get rid of it, especially since this row will be end up being different from the rest of the shrubs that'll go in. Here's my other post requesting landscape idea's - Link

scroll towards end for pics of the front yard.

Likely Ilex cornuta 'Dwarf Burford' holly. Common in Texas. Like a typical holly it can be sheared way back. I would have done any heavy pruning or shearing in late Winter or early Spring though. So you missed the window on that for now, I suspect.

It's a perfectly suitable, basically issue-free, hedging shrub for North Texas -- takes heat and drought. Doesn't grow too terribly fast and is easily trimmed. It's beautifully evergreen and can put on a nice berry display in fall and winter. I'd definitely keep it, so don't let anyone talk you into removal!! Unless, for some reason it just doesn't fit into your overall landscape vision.

You could take a hedgetrimmer to it now and trim it back a few inches, just to tidy it up.

But next late-winter or early spring (well before new growth begins) you can cut it way back to wherever you like - 1 foot or 2 or 3! Do not do it in stages. It will come back super densely over the growing season. Then prune again mid-summer to tidy up the vigorous shoots. It will probably settle down to growing 4 to 6 inches year or so. It will be a while before the height is a problem. I trim mine only once a year and not all that much at a time.

Maybe someone in Texas has more experience with timing and you have a long enough and wet enough (?) growing season that it could be done now, but I suspect it's too late for this year.

And while you're at it, I'd get rid of the weedy trees coming up in the hedge (pull or dig out).

You mention you want to get rid of the holly for security reasons. Spikey shrubs below windows are a security plus.

Looks like the dwarf version of Burford Holly, Ilex cornuta burfordii 'Nana'. The tighter growth habit and smaller leaves are the clue. It is a vigorous grower and one that can very easily become a problem when used as a foundation plant.

It makes a great hedge plant, though, taking annual pruning and shearing very nicely. Yours have a nice shape, but would be much more suitable in a different location. I've seen gorgeous 8ft. dwarf Burfords, by the way. :-0

Dave in NoVA - Thanks for reinforcing my original thought of keeping it & for your suggestions on the pruning. With my limited knowledge, I agree that pruning in current high 90's, with more to come would not be wise. That said, I'm up against my better half on keeping it, so we'll see how it goes. As for the weedy trees, that end used to be a beautiful bed with Iris' & day lilies growing merrily but that's what has become :-( I'll be clearing up that side in the coming weeks for a new flower bed.

floral_uk - Spikey shrubs are definitely good but the height on that shrub & easy access from one side makes it easy for someone to hide behind. And the the distance between the shrub & the window is a good 4-5', so there is plenty room to be comfy behind it.

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7 - Totally agree with you, it would make a good shrub as a hedge, especially along the fence line. Plus it has been absolutely effortless for us. It has to come down in height though.

I don't know if that is a dwarf or not. I had a couple on either side of my house when I moved here. They were "shrub-like," so we trimmed and enjoyed the evergreen effect. 10 years later they are TREES. Rooftop height TREES. They get trimmed annually but they are too close to the house and will be coming down in the next year or so.

Here is Ilex cornuta 'Dwarf Burford'

Maybe it's a male?

'Dwarf Burford' is female, BUT, early new growth and buds are vulnerable to late frosts, and so flowers are frequently damaged in zone 7a. Supposedly parthenocarpic.

Here is a closeup of the foliage of the plant in question, location Annandale VA.

Your picture shows lots of flower buds so that's a start. I'm not knowledgable enough to say if they're male or female at this stage but you'll know when they open.