The Oakland holly is unique as its new growth emerges as a reddish purple and ages to an emerald green. They have an emerald green foliage and a unique oak-shaped leaf, and as it ages it matures from a more columnar to a pyramid shape. Another notable characteristic of the Oakland is that it is a hermaphrodite, and it will be self-fruiting without need for a male pollinator. Beautiful greenish-white flowers appear in the spring, and red-orange berries in the winter. They can adapt to many soil types from sand to well drained clay soils, and they can handle partial sun to full sun.