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Castle Keep® Blue Holly Ilex x meserveae

Flower Season
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter
Mature Size
5' 4' 1.5m 1.2m
Height: 3' - 5'
Spread: 3' - 4'
Height: 91cm - 1.5m
Spread: 91cm - 1.2m
  • Details

    36 - 60 Inches
    36 - 48 Inches
    36 - 48 Inches
    91cm - 1.5m
    91cm - 1.2m
    91cm - 1.2m

    Features

    With glossy, leathery, evergreen foliage, Castle Keep® blue holly makes a handsome choice for landscaping. This is a smaller-than-average blue holly, growing just 3-5' tall and wide, and with soft-to-the-touch deep green foliage. This is a female variety which will develop bright red berries if male Castle Wall® holly is planted nearby. 

    Top reasons to grow Castle Keep holly:

    - Semi-dwarf habit is easy to use in home landscapes.

    - Dark evergreen foliage lends handsome good looks year-round.

    - Dense, rounded habit needs no pruning to keep a nice shape.

    Foliage Interest
    Winter Interest

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Shrub
    Shrub Type: 
    Evergreen
    Height Category: 
    Short
    Garden Height: 
    36 - 60 Inches 91cm - 1.5m
    Spacing: 
    36 - 48 Inches 91cm - 1.2m
    Spread: 
    36 - 48 Inches 91cm - 1.2m
    Flower Colors: 
    White
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Shade: 
    Dark green
    Habit: 
    Upright
    Container Role: 
    Filler

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Part Sun to Sun
    Light Requirement: 
    Sun

    The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).

    Maintenance Category: 
    Easy
    Blooms On: 
    Old Wood
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Spring
    Hardiness Zones: 
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Soil PH Category: 
    Acidic Soil
    Uses: 
    Border Plant
    Uses: 
    Container
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses: 
    Mass Planting
    Uses: 
    Specimen or Focal Point
    Uses Notes: 

    With its neat, rounded shape, Castle Keep holly could make a nice alternative to boxwood in containers and formal settings. It also adds texture and year-round color to landscapes and gardens. 

    Maintenance Notes: 

    It's best to avoid pruning altogether, as pruning after bloom (which would normally be the appropriate time on plants that bloom on old wood like this) will remove the potential for fruit to develop. Fortunately, with its dense, rounded habit, little pruning should be required.

    This female selection requires a male variety in the vicinity to develop fruit. One male will pollinate 5-7 females; plants should be located within about 50'/15.24m of each other.

    Castle Keep® Ilex x meserveae 'SMNIFA' USPP 31,118
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