[Plant #3 old growth...]

Looks like a Burford holly (the single point leaves) grafted onto a Chinese holly (the multi-prickled, "holly" looking leaves). The rootstock has sprouted and will take over if you don't take off the sprouts now.

So I want to keep the old growth...and remove the new--is that right? Will the inner one attract birds?

Thank you.

Burford holly is a nice, prunable landscaping shrub. Mine are a slower-growing dwarf variety. I assume birds are the reason the berries disappear, but I've never actually seen the birds eating them.

Since you're in zone 8, you're unlikely to have weather cold enough to bother them.

Do prune off the spiky branches!

Doubtful that the hollies are grafted. More than likely they are reverting to the 'wilder' form....or perhaps a seedling is growing among the Burfords.

Hollies are a valuable source of food for birds in the winter time. Birds such as robins and cedar waxwings depend on them.

Burford hollies can take drought and heat well and still remain a beautiful green. That is why they are commonly used in the South.

Burfords can take pruning several times a season to remain smaller. This one has obviously not been pruned. That is why it is 'taking over'.

In zone 8 you can probably prune it any time.

Thank you Dave in NoVA!