China Girl® Holly
Ilex x meserveae 'Mesog'
SKU
04524
This mounding evergreen holly boasts a profusion of bright red berries each fall, backed by lustrous green foliage. Partners well with China Boy as a pollenizer, to assure berry set. The dense branching habit takes well to formal pruning. The ornamental berries are a valuable food source for overwintering birds. Excellent heat tolerance.
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Full sun, Partial sun
Water regularly - weekly, or more often in extreme heat.
We no longer grow this plant
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| Botanical Pronunciation | I-leks MESS-erv-ay |
|---|---|
| Lore | Though an extremely valuable food source to birds and wildlife, Holly berries are considered mildly toxic, causing gastric upset if consumed by humans. |
| Average Size at Maturity | Moderate growing; reaches 8 to 10 ft. tall, 6 to 8 ft. wide. |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Design Ideas | This rugged female Holly needs a pollenizer for fruit. However, with or without fruit, it is excellent hedge material and a perfect candidate for formal gardens. Its dense habit takes oval or pyramidal forms. If left unsheared, it makes an ideal screen for planting strips between driveways, where it can take reflected heat and reduces glare. |
| Deciduous/ Evergreen | Evergreen |
| Flower Color | White |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Garden Style | Asian/Zen, Contemporary, Cottage, Mediterranean, Rustic |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Landscape Use | Barrier, Border, Hedge, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen, Specimen, Woodland Garden, Wildlife Garden, Urban Garden |
| Light Needs | Full sun, Partial sun |
| Soil Needs | Tree & Shrub Food |
| Special Feature | Dense Habit, Easy Care, Extreme Cold Hardiness, Fruit Poisonous, Ornamental Berries, Tolerates Acidic Soil, Year-round Interest, Bird Friendly |
| Water Needs | Moderate |
| Watering Needs | Water regularly - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Companion Plants | Lily of the Valley (Pieris); Magnolia (Magnolia); Rhododendron (Rhododendron); Mountain Laurel (Kalmia); Hydrangea (Hydrangea) |
Thrives in organically rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils, but highly adaptable. Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. For a tidy, neat appearance, prune annually to shape.
This Plant's Growing Zones: 4-9
Your USDA Cold Hardiness Zone:
Your climate may be too cold for this plant