two plants can not have the same latin name ...

if google is failing.. it is most likely that you are searching using the common name ...

what is the latin name of the 'good old-fashioned Burford hollies'

ken

Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii'. But, I'll bet you know that already, don't you, lceh?

lceh, do you have any privately owned nurseries or garden centers in your area? They will often carry the old tried and true varieties. OR, they might know who does. There are still 'mom and pop' nurseries all over the place, you just have to ask the right questions of the right person to find them.

Just a suggestion (and what I do); sorry I can't be of help with the mail order query.

Yes, I know the Latin name and have Googled it like mad but can't seem to find a nursery that has it. I think you're right, rhizo, my next step is to get my favorite local place to find it for me. I was just hoping to find some smaller plants and the local nurseries only seem to be able to special order 5 gallon or larger plants, which gets pricey fast!

I've got to stop falling in love with those mature specimens of "old-fashioned" plants. My next quest is for a "Claudia Wannamaker" magnolia -- there are 40- and 50-year-old trees all over town here, but what do I find in the nurseries (even the good ones)? Nothing but "Little Gem", "Teddy Bear", and "Bracken's Brown Beauty". Guess I'm going to have to pay shipping on that one.

It's worth the search for Claudia. ;-)

Sadly, it's a vicious circle with nurseries. They grow what they think the public wants and the public buys only what's readily available. And around and around.

Good luck....I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

I meant to ask: where are you located (in general)?

I heard Michael Dirr speak a few months ago and he was pointing everyone back to the old standards. In so many cases these new introductions are rushed to market without enough testing and really don't turn out to be all they're proclaimed, especially after a few years in the garden.
Rhizo_1, we're in Virginia, and there are Burford holly trees EVERYWHERE (except in the nurseries).