Honest review: Holly is rewarding but dieback from harsh winters on marginally hardy varieties is real

Holly is a genuinely satisfying plant to grow, but I want to be upfront about one thing: dieback from harsh winters on marginally hardy varieties. I've dealt with it twice now and it takes consistent attention to manage.

Beyond that, generally low maintenance once established makes it one of my favourites in the collection. I keep it in a mixed shrub border providing year-round structure which suits it well. Learning about deadheading where appropriate to extend the flowering season has been essential. early spring flowering on bare branches before leaves appear is worth waiting for — the plant really justifies itself then. Four stars because of that persistent issue.