Overview
Uses: Hedges, foundation plantings, specimen accents, and as a pollinator for female blue hollies.
Benefits: A colorful male blue holly. New growth comes in glossy red-burgundy all season, and in winter the whole plant turns deep burgundy. It sets no berries itself but pollinates Castle Spire® and other female blue hollies planted within about 50 feet.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–7
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright — narrow and dense.
Foliage Color: Dark Green with Red new growth, Burgundy in winter
Mature Height: 5–8 feet
Mature Width: 4–5 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A male holly that stops being the plant you hide and becomes the one you show off.
Most male hollies get tucked out of sight, planted only so the females nearby will fruit. Castle Rouge® changes that. Its glossy, dark green leaves are tinged with red-burgundy new growth all season, and when cold weather arrives the whole plant takes on a deep, dark burgundy color that lasts through winter.
It still does the pollinator’s job. Its spring flowers supply the pollen that lets Castle Spire®, Castle Keep®, and other female blue hollies set red berries, and one plant can serve several females planted within about 50 feet.
The habit is upright and dense, reaching about five to eight feet tall and only four to five feet wide. That narrow frame fits between windows, along a side yard, or at the corner of a house, and the natural shape needs little trimming to stay tidy.
Care
Castle Rouge® Blue Holly Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Sun brings out the strongest red and burgundy color; in hot-summer areas, some afternoon shade is welcome.
Blue hollies prefer moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and tolerate clay as long as water does not stand. Mix compost into the planting area if the soil is very sandy or very heavy.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season. Evergreen leaves lose moisture all winter, so water well in late fall before the ground freezes, and keep a two-to-three-inch layer of mulch over the roots.
Where winters are harsh, choose a site sheltered from cold, drying winds. Feed in early spring with a slow release fertilizer, ideally one made for acid-loving plants.
Its natural upright form rarely needs pruning. If you want to shape it, trim in late winter or early spring, or right after it flowers.
Size
What Size is the Castle Rouge® Blue Holly for Sale Online?
Our Castle Rouge® Blue Holly ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Castle Rouge® Blue Holly Grow?
Expect about 5 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in a narrow, upright shape. For a hedge, space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Castle Rouge® Blue Holly?
The botanical name is Ilex × meserveae Castle Rouge® ‘HACH1’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub and part of the Castle series of blue hollies.
What are some common names for this plant?
It is commonly called blue holly or Meserve holly, after the breeder of the original blue hollies.
Which hollies will it pollinate?
It pollinates female blue hollies, including Castle Spire® and Castle Keep®, along with other evergreen female hollies that bloom at the same time. One plant can serve several females within about 50 feet. Castle Rouge® is male, so it will not bear berries itself.
Does it stay burgundy all year?
No. Through the growing season the leaves are glossy dark green, with new growth tinted red-burgundy. The full burgundy color develops as temperatures drop in fall and holds through winter, making it one of the more colorful evergreens for the cold months. Browse more Evergreen Plants.
