Ilex crenata 'Jenny'

Ilex crenata 'Jenny' is a compact evergreen shrub with small, glossy, dark green leaves and a dense, bushy habit. Although it's a holly, the leaves have no spines, and it looks very similar to box. It takes clipping well, so it can be kept as a low hedge, an edging plant or a clipped ball or cone. Small white flowers appear in late spring but are hard to spot, as it's grown for its foliage.

'Jenny' gives you the neat, formal look of box without the worry of box blight or box tree caterpillar. It's slow growing, fully hardy and needs only a trim once or twice a year. A good choice for low hedges, pots by the front door and clipped shapes.