Plant Guide: Holly and Privet for Classic Hedges

Holly offers glossy evergreen foliage and, on female plants with a pollinator nearby, berries. Privet grows fast and takes shearing, which is why it appears in older formal hedges — and why it can become invasive or high-maintenance in some regions.

Site for sun and air flow, and prune to keep density without creating bare interiors. Know local guidance on privet before planting it as a long hedge.

If you want a formal green wall, ask which evergreen hedge species performs best in your climate with the maintenance level you will actually provide.