New Holly Hedging Guide: Planting, Care & Best Uses (Ilex aquifolium)

Hedging Plants Direct has published a new, practical guide to Holly hedging (Ilex aquifolium) — one of the UK’s most traditional evergreen hedge plants, valued for its glossy, spiky foliage, year-round privacy, and excellent security.

The guide covers everything from choosing the right site (holly copes well from full sun to full shade) to planting tips and spacing (typically 30–45cm apart, planted from late autumn to early spring). We also explain how berrying works — holly is male/female, so you’ll need both nearby for reliable berries — plus key safety notes (berries are poisonous to humans, but a valuable winter food source for birds).

Holly is a long-term, low-maintenance option once established, usually needing just one prune a year in late winter, and it can provide decades of dense screening.