Q: Several years ago we purchased what we were told were two dwarf Helleri hollies. One has died. The other is still no more than a foot tall, with a spread of two and a half feet. We are trying to find a replacement but have been told there is no such thing as a “dwarf” Helleri holly.

A: You’re right, ‘Helleri’ holly grows bigger than you need, perhaps six feet tall, depending on environment. Consider Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’ or Ilex vomitoria ‘Bordeaux’ for small-sized holly replacements.