Your initial question triggered an immersion into holly botany that I haven't enjoyed in quite some time.
I dusted off my weathered copy of Hollies: the Genus Ilex by the late Fred Galle, and read up on Ilex flower morphology and the whole history of Kathleen Meserve's epic hybridization efforts. I'm all aglow.
Sounds like the old Blue Prince has had a workout over the years. Still, having known pretty much its whole life is a tale in itself - and tying it back to fond family memories and other touchstones makes it a compelling story. The mystery of the surprise fruiting just adds spice.
