Great Neighbor™ Holly

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-12 Feet

Mature Spread

6-8 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 9

Great Neighbor™ Ilex (Ilex x ‘EN4’ PPAF) is the evergreen we reach for when a landscape needs instant structure without constant shaping. It holds a clean, pyramidal silhouette with glossy, dark green leaves, so it appears tidy from the street in every season. In spring, the small white blooms are subtle up close, but they add pollinator value without changing the plant’s polished look. At maturity it lands in the 8–12 ft range with a 6–8 ft footprint, which is tall enough for privacy but not so huge that it swallows a foundation bed. We like it because it delivers the “finished” look of a formal hedge with far less fuss than many traditional hollies. 

Great Neighbor™ Ilex is a broadleaf evergreen built for real-world conditions: heat, humidity, wind, and periods of dry weather once established. Deer and rabbits usually pass it by, which matters when you’re planting a screen along the property edge. It’s a strong fit for privacy rows, foundation planting, entry framing, and clipped topiary if you want a more formal style. It also works in contemporary courtyards and urban beds for year-round green that doesn’t sprawl. 

Great Neighbor™ Holly Care

Set plants out in full sun to part sun; you’ll get the densest growth with more light, but filtered afternoon shade is fine in hotter exposures. Aim for soil that drains well and sits on the acidic to neutral side; many hollies can yellow in alkaline ground, so keep pH in the roughly 5.0–7.0 neighborhood if you can. After planting, give the root zone a deep soak, then let the surface dry slightly between waterings rather than keeping it constantly wet. Once roots push outward, supplemental irrigation is only needed during hot, dry weather. Feeding is optional in decent soil; if growth looks pale or slow, use a general shrub fertilizer in early spring, then stop fertilizing late in the season so new growth can harden off before winter. 

For shaping, think “selective cuts,” not hedge-trimmer sculpting. Remove winter-damaged tips and any crossing branches before spring growth begins, and lightly refine the outline after the spring flush if needed. Broadleaf evergreens tolerate occasional touch-ups, but avoid heavy late-summer cuts that can trigger tender growth going into cold snaps. If you’re growing Great Neighbor™ Ilex in a container in Zone 6–7, plan on winter protection (a sheltered spot out of wind, or insulating the pot) since roots in pots experience colder extremes than roots in the ground.

Great Neighbor™ Holly Spacing

For a screen that closes in, place plants about 4–6 ft apart depending on how quickly you want coverage and how tightly you plan to maintain the outline. If you’re using it as a single specimen, give it enough room to show its full pyramid (at least 6–8 ft of open width at maturity). For containers, use a substantial vessel (roughly 18–24 inches wide, with excellent drainage) and treat the holly as the permanent anchor. Underplant around the edges with shallow-rooted companions that like the same sun exposure.

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