Castle Spire® Blue Holly

Ilex x meserveae 'Hachfee'

$59⁹⁶

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Castle Spire® Blue Holly highlights at a glance!

Botanical Name

Ilex x meserveae 'Hachfee'
Brand

Proven Winners® ColorChoice®
Growing Zones

5, 6, 7
Growth Rate

Moderate
Mature Height

6 - 10 feet
Mature Width

4 - 5 feet
Leaf Color
- Green
Flower Color
- White
Fall Color

Evergreen
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Late Spring

Growing Zones 5-7

Find Your Growing Zone!

Your home is your castle, so you will certainly want to protect your keep! Why not include a living fortification fit for a king? The Castle Spire® Holly (Ilex x meserveae 'Hachfee') is just that and more! An impressive broad-leaved evergreen shrub, the Castle Spire® has that clean, iconic leaf shape. Scalloped and pointed foliage, that's very glossy and highly ornamental! It was developed with improved branching and an even more lustrous, classic Holly leaf. It's charming year-round but really shines in the winter months.

Tall, pyramidal and elegant, the dark foliage looks handsome year-round! Plus spring brings tiny white blooms the bees will seek out. Late, the addition of ornate red berries if a male pollinator is nearby, makes this plant really stand out with four-season interest! You can almost see a red Cardinal or Blue Jay sitting among its branches just like in a Christmas card. It's a stunning display to be sure! The foliage and berries make outstanding decorations for the holiday season.

Castle Spire® is a female shrub and will only have berries if a male pollinator is planted nearby like Castle Wall®. One male will pollinate up to 5 females. Plant within 50' (15.25m) of each other to ensure pollination.

Planting and Application:

Planted alone, the glossy foliage by itself makes a lovely specimen plant for a front or side yard, or accent when planted among your mix-shrub borders as a shiny backdrop. Staying narrow, Castle Spire® has that perfect growing habit making it ideal for hedges, groupings and mass plantings. Create a living screen or even go one step further and create your own 'living walls' and garden rooms for outdoor privacy year-round.

Imagine this narrow Holly, standing resolute among the white snow, its blue-green, dark glossy leaves shining. The stems look lovely as evergreen decor in wreaths and arrangements. Just be sure to avoid pruning female Hollies until after they're done blooming.

Like any proper castle wall, these leaves will provide protection! Those slight points on each leave will have unwanted trespassers thinking twice before crossing them! Castle Spire® of course creates amazing privacy and a barrier-forming hedge. It works well as a handsome foundation plant as well! Typically filling out nicely all the way to ground level, so you won't have to consider planting facer plants around it.

Gorgeous Evergreen Holly
Iconic Glossy Holly Leaf - Decorative Foliage Year-Round
White Flowers in Spring
Naturally Pyramidal Form
Female Shrub With Red Berries When Male Castle Wall® Is Nearby
Pollinators & Birds Love Them!
Hedges & Foundation Plantings

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Blue Holly are long-lived, commonly thriving for 40 years or more. Keep yours looking amazing the whole time with these helpful tips:

Loving both full sun and part shade sites, Blue Holly is highly resilient in USDA zones 5 through 7. Castle Spire® Holly needs well-drained soil with higher moisture availability. While being very cold-hardy, in the summer heat they will require regular watering, sometimes weekly, or more in extreme heat. Don’t let evergreens go into winter dry, provide winter watering when able. Holly prefers acidic soils and a generous layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture as well as insulate the root system from heat and chill.

It's Deer resistant so you don't have to worry about anything coming around for a quick nibble. You don't have to prune it, but you'll certainly want to when the holidays roll around for home décor. Castle Spire® Holly prefers to avoid those drying winter winds, so it would love to be nestled close to your home, against a wall or fence, or protected by other evergreen trees and shrubs.

Full Sun & Partial Shade
Well-Drained Soil
Moderate Moisture Needs
Rarely Needs Pruning
Long-Lived & Deer Resistant

No castle or home should be without the privacy and protection that walls can provide! So why not have the long-living, handsome evergreen fortification that Castle Spire® Holly has to offer instead of cold stone? For a superior landscape, and lovely year-round green, call to order your new hedge from Nature Hills today!

Happy

Received it in a timely manner and it was in excellent condition. Put it in the ground the day it arrived. It is looking very healthy.

Dear Gilda,

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear your new plant arrived quickly and in excellent condition, and that it’s thriving already in your garden—that’s such great news. It sounds like you’ve got a true green thumb!

If you ever need tips on keeping it healthy or if you’d like to explore other plants to complement your growing collection, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support your garden's journey every step of the way.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Happy

Received it in a timely manner and it was in excellent condition. Put it in the ground the day it arrived. It is looking very healthy.

Dear Gilda,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your positive experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that your plant arrived quickly and in excellent condition, and it’s wonderful to know it’s already looking healthy in its new home. Your prompt planting truly helps set the stage for a thriving garden, and we’re excited to see it flourish.

If you ever have any questions about care tips or want guidance on helping your plant grow even stronger, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to support your gardening journey!

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Perfect

I bought 2 to put in the back corners of my yard, near the back fence. The classic bright green leaves & red berries in winter are so beautiful. Thanks Nature Hills!

Dear Great winter color,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that your Castle Spire® Blue Holly plants are thriving in those back corners of your yard and adding such beautiful winter color with their bright green leaves and vibrant red berries. Holly is truly special during the colder months, brightening outdoor spaces with its classic charm.

If you ever want to keep them at their best, be sure to provide well-draining soil and some morning sun to keep the leaves glossy. Also, occasional mulching helps preserve soil moisture, especially through winter. And if birds take a liking to those berries as much as we imagine, consider adding a little bird feeder nearby—it’s a perfect way to keep your garden lively all season!

Thanks again for trusting Nature Hills, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or future garden plans.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Perfect

I bought 2 to put in the back corners of my yard, near the back fence. The classic bright green leaves & red berries in winter are so beautiful. Thanks Nature Hills!

Dear Great C.,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with the Castle Spire® Blue Holly! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that its bright green leaves and winter red berries are adding beauty to your yard. Placing them in your back corners near the fence is a fantastic idea—these hollies really do create striking focal points that brighten any space, especially during the colder months.

If you ever need tips on keeping your hollies thriving, remember they prefer well-drained soil and benefit from a balanced fertilizer in early spring to encourage lush growth and vibrant berries. Also, occasional pruning after winter helps maintain their elegant shape.

We’re here anytime you have questions or want plant suggestions for other corners of your garden.

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Need more hollies

I put 3 castle spire holly bushes along a fence a few years ago. Now i'm back to buy more. I might also look at the nellie stevens holly.

Hello Beaver,

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! It’s fantastic to hear that your Castle Spire® Blue Holly bushes have grown well along your fence and that you’re looking to add even more to your garden. Castle Spire® really is a stunning evergreen with its upright growth and rich blue-green foliage—a lovely choice that creates a beautiful screening effect.

The Nellie Stevens Holly is also an excellent selection, especially if you’re thinking about adding some variety to your landscape. Known for its glossy dark leaves and bright red berries, it makes a great compliment to the Castle Spire® especially for winter interest and wildlife attraction.

If you want to mix them or keep doubling down on the cast spires, do pay attention to spacing to give those holly bushes plenty of room for growth—Castle Spire® tends to have a narrower column habit, roughly 4 to 5 feet wide. For care, both hollies appreciate well-drained soil and some light afternoon shade in very hot climates for best foliage retention.

If you’d like, we can also provide tips on fertilizing and pruning as your planting grows. Feel free to reach out anytime!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

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Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150+	$24.99

Castle Spire® Blue Holly

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