Experienced grower's notes on Holly

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Holly remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is mulching around the base annually to feed and retain moisture. Everything else follows from that.

dieback from harsh winters on marginally hardy varieties is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in a formal clipped topiary or box hedge for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. permanent woody structure providing year-round garden framework is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. early spring flowering on bare branches before leaves appear is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.