Steeds Holly

Ilex Crenata Steeds Holly Is The Best Privacy Hedge for Suburban Landscapes

A classy evergreen shrub that invites native birds to your landscape

• Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9
• Extremely cold hardy, can survive down to 0º Farehnehit 
• Natural upright growth habit, minimal pruning needed!
• Deer resistant so your hedge stays intact
• Attract native birds with winter berries for natural wildlife appeal
• Great growth rate or 6-12 inches per year

The Ilex Crenata Steeds Holly Bush, also known as Steeds Japanese holly, is an easy-care, fast-growing evergreen that can be grown just about anywhere. This holly shrub is deer resistant but birds love to flock to it. The berry production in the winter feeds birds and the dense foliage creates a safe hide-away from predators.

If you’re looking for a year-round green landscape color and a bird-attracting plant that requires minimal care, the Ilex holly 'Steeds' plant will make a good choice.

Why Gardeners Love the Upright Japanese Steeds Holly

It’s a hardy little evergreen shrub that can tolerate air temperatures that dip below zero or rise above 100º F. This evergreen shrub has glossy green foliage that gets darker as it ages. The foliage is triangular-shaped and remains green year-round.

Winter Berries: The shrub will produce tiny white blooms in late summer that will last through late fall. When the flowers fade, small red berries appear that will darken to a bluish-black color during the winter. If the colorful berries are not eaten by birds, they will add another layer of winter color to the dark green foliage. 

Architectural Interest: The natural pyramid shape makes it a great choice for framing entry ways. The aesthetic appeal is only increased in winter! When covered with snow Steeds Holly is very attractive. The dense foliage keeps the snow on top of the shrub and the strong branches can withstand the weight of the snow without breaking.

Japanese Steeds Holly Care

Sunlight: Steeds Holly grows best in full sun to partial shade, and honestly it is pretty easygoing about it. More sun means denser foliage and a tighter, more uniform shape, which is exactly what you want if you are planting it as a hedge or privacy screen. It can handle shadier spots too, though you may notice slightly looser growth over time.

Watering: For the first growing season, water deeply a couple of times a week to help those roots settle in and get established. Once your Steeds Holly is comfortable in the ground, it becomes quite drought tolerant and only needs water during extended dry stretches or heat waves. When in doubt, stick your finger a few inches into the soil around the base. If it is dry that far down, go ahead and give it a good drink.

Spacing: For a tight, solid privacy hedge, plant your Steeds Hollies 2 to 3 feet apart on center. If you want a little more breathing room or plan to let each shrub develop its natural pyramidal shape, spacing them 3 to 4 feet apart works great. Keep in mind the mature spread runs 4 to 5 feet wide, so give them enough room to fill in without overcrowding.

Discover the Perfect Plants Nursery Difference

Most other nurseries are simply middlemen drop-shippers, but not us. Make sure you buy a Steeds Holly online from a grower. At Perfect Plants Nursery, we pride ourselves on actually growing and caring for the plants we send to our gardeners. We have been a family-run farm since 1980. We ship the highest quality plants so they arrive at your door, ready to thrive.

Shop Steeds Holly for sale today or browse all our Holly shrubs for sale to find your perfect plant.