The native holly tree is considered the holy grail for song birds nesting (safety from hawks and other predators) and for even more birds as a food source in winter. (the berries).
I potted it a year ago. And it is quite hardy. The photo is about 7 months old (March 23). It is taller and has more foliage after the summer.
This is not liked by deer.
Some people turn these into a hedge. It's a tedious job cutting them back into hedgelike shape every year, but the robins like them because they are happy making their nests lower to the ground. If permitted to reach for the sky, the lower branches can be removed and from then on no more trimming (giving the song birds excellent protective cover from the hawks, etc.)