Winter, I used this particular holly on a job for someone who asked for them by name. I had them installed against my will, so to speak, but the customer was dead set in his mind to have them, lol.

Yes, branches do fall out of attention and they begin to do that pretty early. Those branches can be trimmed out, but that often results in a scraggly, patchy appearance. HERE, I found an example at a nursery of what I mean.

As a whole , Yaupons are fairly slow growing. That can be a benefit.

As I recall, the property owner ended up digging them out after about three years.

Rhizo - thanks!

It's a bit like the Totem cypress. Totem is much lovelier but has a drooping branch problem.

Thing is I need a hedge for a really narrow space. I don't want to see my neighbours (hearing them yelling is more than enough). A wider plant would entail frequent pruning. Cypress won't be good because I need to replace a row of thujas that are dying of fungal disease.

I think i'll just go for Will Fleming. Seems the least of evils. Nobody's perfect anad that goes for plants as well i guess.