Dealing with Evergreen Leaf Drop From Holly
A Holly-Specific Garden Solution
If you’ve got holly or other evergreen trees and shrubs in your garden, you’ll know the problem well—those tough, waxy leaves that don’t rot down easily and seem to blow around the garden endlessly. Holly is particularly notorious. Unlike deciduous trees that drop their leaves in one go in autumn, evergreens like holly shed old leaves intermittently throughout the year. This creates an ongoing maintenance issue, especially in formal or tidy garden settings.
At GardenAdvice, we’ve been exploring low-maintenance ways to manage this year-round leaf drop, especially under holly trees. One practical and effective solution is to underplant the holly with dense, ground-hugging or medium-height perennials and shrubs that trap falling leaves. Once or twice a month, these leaves can be easily removed using a leaf blower and composted—keeping the garden looking tidy and your compost heap well-fed.
Notes on creating a compost heap Click Here
Why This Works
- Leaves get trapped rather than blowing around the garden.
- The plants create a visual buffer under the holly tree.
- Many of these species thrive in dry shade, the tricky environment typically found under holly.
- The stiff stems and leathery leaves provide structure that intercepts falling foliage.
Recommended Underplanting Options for Holly and Other Evergreen Trees
Here’s our hand-picked list of low-to-medium height plants that are ideal for underplanting holly trees and managing leaf litter effectively:
1. Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’
Height: ~300mm
- Fine, bamboo-like evergreen foliage
- Tolerates dry shade
- Arching stems are perfect for catching leaf litter
2. Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis (Dwarf Sweet Box)
Height: 300mm
- Dense, evergreen structure with glossy leaves
- Sweetly scented winter flowers
- Great for trapping leaves and thriving in dry shade
3. Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’
Height: 200–300mm
- Semi-evergreen with wiry stems
- Heart-shaped foliage lets leaves fall and settle below
- Very tolerant once established
4. Bergenia ‘Baby Doll’ or ‘Silberlicht’
Height: 200–250mm
- Leathery evergreen leaves form a low canopy
- Excellent for catching and hiding unsightly leaf drop
- Prefers partial to full shade
5. Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten Rose)
Height: 250–350mm
- Upright stems with strong, bold foliage
- Winter-to-early spring flowers for seasonal interest
- Handles leaf fall and tough growing conditions well
6. Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ or ‘Palace Purple’
Height: 200–300mm
- Evergreen to semi-evergreen
- Leaf cups and compact form help trap debris
- Adds colour contrast under the tree
7. Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)
Height: 80–100mm
- Dense, mat-forming evergreen
- Ideal for leaf-trapping and suppressing weeds
- Very effective in dry shade
8. Waldsteinia ternata (Barren Strawberry)
Height: 70–100mm
- Semi-evergreen groundcover
- Tough and drought-tolerant
- Forms neat mats that catch falling leaves effectively
Final Tip: Don’t Fight Nature—Work With It
Instead of constantly chasing stray holly leaves around the garden, let nature give you a hand. These underplanting options act like a leafy net that holds the litter in place until you’re ready to collect it—usually with a leaf blower or by hand—keeping the space clean with minimal effort.
This method not only saves time and keeps your garden tidy, but also improves biodiversity, adds winter interest, and supports a more naturalistic planting scheme.
If you’d like help choosing plants for your specific conditions, or sourcing any of the varieties listed above, feel free to contact the GardenAdvice team.
