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1–3
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$99.00 ea
4-9
5% off
$94.05 ea
10-15
15% off
$84.15 ea
16-23
25% off
$74.25 ea
24+
35% off
$64.35 ea
26 in stock
Ilex crenata 'Steeds'
Choose Steeds Japanese Holly if you want upright evergreen structure without a loose, sprawling look. The tradeoff: it is more formal than natural, and it may need light pruning to stay tight.
Buy This If
You want a tidy upright shape.
You need evergreen structure near the house.
You like a clipped, formal look.
Skip This If
You want a soft, loose shrub.
Your site stays soggy.
You need a pencil-thin plant.
PGNE Report Card
Category
Grade
Why
Landscape Impact
B+
It gives the planting a clean vertical backbone, especially where rounded shrubs look too flat.
Growth Rate
B
It fills in at a steady pace without getting out of hand quickly.
Maintenance
B
It is manageable, but the best-looking plants usually get light shaping rather than being ignored.
Deer Resistance
C-
Japanese holly is browsed by deer, especially in winter, so it is not a plant to rely on where deer pressure is regular.
Small Space Fit
B
Its upright habit helps in tighter beds, but it still needs room to widen naturally.
Screening Value
B+
It works well for a lower evergreen screen where you want structure more than total privacy.
Our Experience
At PGNE, we'd typically recommend Steeds where the homeowner wants a neat evergreen frame near walks, entries, or foundations, not where the goal is a loose mixed border.
Plant Facts
Botanical Name
Ilex crenata 'Steeds'
Common Name
Steeds Japanese Holly
Mature Height
5-8 ft
Mature Width
3-5 ft
Spacing
3-4 ft
Hardiness Zones
5a-8b
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Moisture
Average to moist
Growth Habit
Upright, pyramidal, dense
Evergreen
Yes
Native
No
Customers Usually Ask
Can it replace boxwood?
Yes, if you want a taller, more upright look than most boxwoods provide.
Does it need pruning?
Light pruning keeps it dense and tidy, but avoid hard shearing into old wood.
Will it work in shade?
Some shade is workable, but too much shade can make it thinner and less uniform.
Bright Winter Berries: Female varieties produce striking red berries that add visual interest and attract wildlife.
Ideal for Privacy & Screening: Dense growth makes holly an excellent option for natural hedges and property boundaries.
Shrubs Grown to Perform in New England
At Pro Growers of New England, our shrubs are grown and maintained locally to perform in true New England conditions. From flowering varieties to evergreen foundation plants, each shrub is properly spaced, pruned, and cared for to develop strong root systems and balanced structure before it ever reaches your landscape.
Unlike large online sellers that ship plants long distances, we invite you to visit our nursery, walk the rows, and inspect the exact shrubs available. You can see the size, health, and fullness in person — ensuring there are no surprises upon delivery.
We use your zone to show which plants are hardy where you live.
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Jonathan Berenson
Showed up on time and planted it perfectly. I indicated a light we had to illuminate it and they placed it for optimal lighting. Worked fast and left a clean worksite. First rate!
Installation Service
Jon Kenyon
Really great website, communication and installation. Very happy customer and would recommend them.
Fairview Juniper
Anonymous
They delivered three trees: a big linden, a big poplar and a little spice bush with install on the big trees. The install guys were great and professional and fast. All the trees looked good with minimal damage.
Northern Spicebush
Joseph Sico
I went up there today from Quincy MA to pick up two Blue Wichita Junipers and they were absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Chris and everybody from Pro Growers of New England!
Wichita Blue Juniper
Aileen Maconi
The plants are beautiful and all 13 were consistent in height and width. And at a fraction of the cost of other garden centers. Having the team that delivered them do the planting was one of the best values I can think of. They did a great job from start to finish and even helped me with my watering system which they didn’t have to do!
They're very "leggy" right now but that's not unexpected in the fall. Otherwise, they look healthy, and we're looking forward to seeing them next year.