China Boy® Holly

Ilex x meserveae 'Mesdob'

Nature Hills Nursery

Male Pollinator Holly with Glossy Chartreuse Stems and Year-Round Emerald Foliage
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-9
Grows 8-10 ft Tall, 6-8 ft Wide
Evergreen Year-Round Color and Privacy
Showy White Blooms in Late Spring

$91⁵⁸

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Plant Size

#3 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Plant your China Boy® Holly in full sun to partial shade, aiming for at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. While it tolerates shade well, giving it more sun encourages denser growth and better winter hardiness.
Soil: This holly prefers rich, slightly acidic, and well-draining soil that stays consistently moist but never soggy. If you have heavy clay or poor sandy soil, amend the planting hole with organic compost or peat moss to improve drainage and moisture retention.

Watering Requirements

During the first year, water deeply and regularly—about once a week, or more often during extreme heat—to help the root system establish. Once established, China Boy® Holly is moderately drought-tolerant, but consistent moisture is key to maintaining its glossy, deep green foliage and avoiding leaf scorch or drop.

Pruning Tips

This holly blooms on old wood, so save your major pruning for late winter or very early spring before new growth emerges. You can also do light shaping in early summer to maintain size, but avoid cutting too late in the season, or you risk stimulating tender new growth that could be damaged by frost.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a slow-release, acid-loving shrub fertilizer, like Holly-tone, in early spring just as new growth begins to push. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the growing season (after mid-summer), as this can force late growth that won't harden off in time for winter.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Attracts pollinators, Cold hardy, Container Friendly, Deer-resistant, Evergreen, Full Sun, Heat Tolerant, Hedge/Screen, Low Maintenance, Non-invasive, Salt Tolerant, Shade Tolerant
Hardiness Zone	5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	8-10 ft
Width	6-8 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy
Growth Rate	Fast
Growth Habit	Bushy, Upright
Blooms In	Spring
Flower Color	White
Foliage Color	Green
Pet Safety	Toxic to pets
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Holly
Botanical Name	Ilex x meserveae 'Mesdob'
Species	x meserveae
Cultivar	Mesdob
Class	Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What planting zones is China Boy® Holly hardy in?

China Boy® Holly is hardy in USDA zones 4-9, making it exceptionally cold-hardy and heat-tolerant. This broad range means it thrives from northern Minnesota to southern Texas. Plant in fall or early spring for best establishment.

How tall and wide does China Boy® Holly get at maturity?

China Boy® Holly reaches 8-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide at maturity in zones 4-9. This fast-growing evergreen makes an excellent privacy screen or foundation plant. Space plants 3 feet apart for hedging, available at naturehills.com.

Is China Boy® Holly a fast-growing or slow-growing shrub?

China Boy® Holly is an astonishingly fast grower that reaches 8-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. This hardy evergreen thrives in zones 4-9 and tolerates both cold and heat well. Plant 3 feet apart for hedging to take advantage of its rapid growth rate.

Is China Boy® Holly deer resistant?

China Boy® Holly is naturally deer resistant due to its spiny, waxy leaves that deer typically avoid. The sharp spines along the leaf margins make it an excellent choice for areas with deer pressure. Plant it as a protective barrier or hedge where you need both screening and deer deterrence.

Can China Boy® Holly be pruned and when is the best time to trim it?

China Boy® Holly takes well to pruning and shaping thanks to its glossy evergreen foliage. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins for best results. Light trimming can be done anytime during the growing season to maintain shape.

China Boy® Holly

Ilex x meserveae 'Mesdob'