Overview
Uses: Hedges, foundation plantings, narrow spaces, and specimen plantings.
Benefits: A narrow, pyramidal blue holly with glossy dark green, spiny evergreen leaves. This female selection sets bright red berries for fall and winter when a male holly such as Castle Wall® is planted nearby.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Pyramidal, Upright — narrow and dense.
Bloom Color: White (small), followed by Red berries
Foliage Color: Glossy Dark Green
Mature Height: 8–10 feet
Mature Width: 3–4 feet
Bloom Season: Spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Evergreen height that fits where a wide hedge never could.
Most blue hollies broaden with age, which makes them hard to use along a walk, between windows, or in a narrow side yard. Castle Spire® was selected for the opposite shape. It grows as a dense, upright pyramid about 8 to 10 feet tall while staying only 3 to 4 feet wide, giving you year-round height without taking over the space in front of it.
The leaves have the classic blue holly look: glossy, deep green, and edged with soft spines. They hold their color through winter, so the plant keeps an entry or corner looking finished long after deciduous shrubs have dropped their leaves. Use it singly to frame a doorway, in pairs on either side of a gate, or in a row as a narrow evergreen hedge.
Castle Spire® is a female holly. Planted within reach of a male blue holly such as Castle Wall®, it sets bright red berries that color in fall and stand out against the dark leaves through winter. Without a male nearby, it is still a handsome evergreen, just without the fruit.
Care
Castle Spire® Blue Holly Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Full sun gives the densest growth and the heaviest berry set; afternoon shade is welcome in the warmer part of its range.
Blue hollies prefer moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil with plenty of organic matter. Avoid spots where water stands after rain. In alkaline soil the leaves can yellow between the veins; working in compost and mulching with pine bark or shredded leaves helps.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season, and during dry spells after that. Evergreens keep losing moisture through their leaves in winter, so water well in fall before the ground freezes. A two-to-three-inch layer of mulch keeps the roots cool and moist.
At the colder end of its range, winter wind and sun can scorch the leaves. A spot sheltered from strong winter winds keeps the foliage looking its best.
Feed lightly in early spring with a slow release fertilizer; established plants in good soil need little more.
The natural shape is narrow and pyramidal, so pruning is mostly optional. Trim stray shoots in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Cutting a few sprigs for holiday decorations in December does no harm.
Size
What Size is the Castle Spire® Blue Holly for Sale Online?
Our Castle Spire® Blue Holly ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Young plants may not yet carry berries when they arrive. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Castle Spire® Blue Holly Grow?
Expect about 8 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in a narrow, pyramidal shape. For a continuous evergreen hedge, space plants about 3 feet apart; for individual specimens, allow 4 to 5 feet between plants.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Castle Spire® Blue Holly?
The botanical name is Ilex × meserveae Castle Spire® ‘Hachfee’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® shrub selected for its narrow, upright habit.
What are some common names for this plant?
It is commonly called blue holly, and is also known as Meserve holly.
Do I need a male holly to get berries?
Yes. Hollies have separate male and female plants, and only females bear fruit. Castle Spire® is female, so plant a male blue holly such as Castle Wall® within roughly 30 to 40 feet so bees can carry pollen between them. One male is enough to pollinate several females.
Can I use it as a narrow privacy hedge?
Yes. Planted about 3 feet apart, it forms a dense evergreen wall roughly 8 to 10 feet tall that stays slim enough for side yards, along driveways, and between a house and a property line. The spiny leaves also discourage cutting through. See more options in our Privacy Trees & Shrubs.
Does it stay green all winter?
Yes. The leaves stay glossy and green year-round. In very exposed spots at the cold end of its range, some leaves may bronze or brown at the edges after a harsh winter, and new spring growth replaces them. Browse more Evergreen Plants.
