China Boy® Holly

For an elegant Blue Holly with its distinctive waxy leaves that feature instantly recognizable spines along the toothed margins. With chartreuse stems and incredibly shiny, kelly-green foliage, The China Boy Holly (Ilex x meserveae 'Mesdob') is an astonishingly fast, hardy grower!

This high contrast display between the showy blue-green foliage is outstanding against winter white snow and a standout in the drab dormant season. The mid-tone foliage has a high gloss finish that shines in the sunlight.

Spring brings pollinator-friendly white blossoms that bumblebees will be gaga for! China Boys® glossy evergreen leaves provide year-round interest and green during the more dreary months of winter. Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 4-9, growing 8-10 feet in height and 6-8 feet wide.

Planting and Application:

Use this evergreen Holly as a privacy hedge or backdrop. Lovely property division and screening that wildlife loves, these broad-leaved evergreens have a constant presence in the landscape! Need a strategic barrier plant to shield your property? The spiny leaves offer great protection!

The glossy green foliage takes to shearing and shaping well. China Boy is truly an exceptional landscape plant since it is cold-hardy and heat-tolerant! Use as a landscape specimen, anchoring your foundation plantings or garden beds. A fantastic accent plant, this Holly also works well under power lines!

The China Boy® will pollinate the China Girl® Holly and will pollinate 3-5 female Blue Hollies when planted in close proximity. Even though China Boy® doesn't produce berries, the white spring flowers support the nectar needs of honey bees and other important pollinators and shelter songbirds all year round!

Want to save money on fencing? Use a staggered double row of China Girl® and China Boy® Hollies to grow into a magnificent living fence with berries on the female plants! Plant them 3 feet apart on center for a dense hedge. You'll measure from the center of one to the center of the next. If you prefer a more informal look, simply expand the space between them to 5 feet. Allow them to grow in their full, natural style.

• Unique Glossy Blue Holly Foliage
• White Spring Blossoms That Bees Love
• Ornamental Fast Growing Evergreen Conifer!
• Birds Love Hollies for Shelter
• Perfect Privacy Hedge, Foundations, Specimens & Windbreaks

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Choose a sunny to partly sunny site with well-drained moist soil for the healthiest growth. Choose an acidic site, making sure there is enough room for this shrub to grow to its mature spread. It should be sheltered from winter sun and wind to prevent drying and winter burn. Plan on creating a regular watering schedule to support the needs of your plants or setting up drip irrigation. Plus, adding a 3 - 4-inch layer of wood mulch over the root systems will help keep the soil cool and moist.

China Boy® can be easily pruned right after it blooms and pollinates the female plants and even though it doesn't produce any fruit is a fantastic broadleaved evergreen as it is. Plant up to 50 feet from China Girl® for best pollination, but can be planted as far as 300 feet away. Or as far as a bee will fly!

Prune to control size or to shape your plants after the flowers have faded. For the most attractive results, do not use electric trimmers and let these shrubs grow into their naturally trim form. It's worth the time to hand prune these beautiful plants.

• Full Sun & Partial Shade
• Loves Moist to Average Well-Drained Soil
• Appreciates Mulched Beds
• Prune or Shear After Flowering
• Pollinator for China Girl® Holly

This is a great, fast-growing Holly that is hard to find because China Boy® Holly usually sells out fast. Order yours today at Nature Hills Nursery!