Ilex crenata 'Fastigiata'

Common name: Japanese holly

Description: A slow-growing, narrowly columnar evergreen shrub with small, glossy, box-like dark green leaves and none of the spines of English holly. Tiny white flowers appear in early summer, and on pollinated plants are followed by small black berries. Its neat upright habit makes it an outstanding, low-maintenance alternative to box for hedging and topiary.

Other benefits: excellent box alternative resistant to box blight, ideal for narrow hedging, topiary and formal planting, low maintenance

Wildlife attraction: bees

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 1.2m x 0.5m

Position: full sun or partial shade

Soil pH: neutral to acid; tolerates a wide range of well-drained soils

Moisture: moist but well-drained

Winter hardiness: fully hardy to below -20°C