I Have A Holly Bush That Is Over 50 Years Old. It Thrives But Has Never Produced Berries. We Always Assumed It Was Male. Today, I

Question

noticed two branches with berries. How do you think this happened? Here are photos of the berries.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, your photos did not come through. I am unable to see the issue in question.

I could think of, only, a couple of possibilities.

The most likely situation is that it is, indeed, female but has not produced berries up to this point. Looking at the flowers will confirm whether it is male or female.

Less likely, but still a possibility if your shrub is grafted, is that the root (which can be a different cultivar and sex) from the grafted root stock has sent up a shoot.

The shrub forms are not, usually, grafted. This is not very likely, but it isn't to say that this is not what is happening.

This collection of articles will give you all of the information that you could need, pertaining to hollies:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly