Holly, Castle Wall #3
Castle Wall Holly
Ilex x meserveae 'Heckenstar'
Height: Typically 5–8 feet tall in Michigan’s cooler climate
Spread: Approximately 3–4 feet wide
Spacing: Plant 5–6 feet apart to ensure proper air circulation and full development
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Description
Castle Wall Holly is a striking male pollinator renowned for its compact, columnar form and dense, glossy dark green foliage that brings a sophisticated splash of evergreen beauty to your landscape. Designed with Michigan’s cooler climate in mind, this elegant holly maintains a refined stature, making it perfect for foundation plantings, hedges, or as a standout accent in mixed shrub borders. Although it does not produce berries itself, its robust, upright habit and superior branching play a vital role in pollinating nearby female hollies, ensuring those specimens yield brilliant red winter berries that create a magnificent seasonal display.
General Care
- Sunlight: Thrives in full sun to partial sun
- Watering: Water regularly after planting to establish a deep root system; once established, needs little additional watering except during extended dry periods
- Mulching: Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base to conserve moisture and maintain stable soil temperatures
- Pruning: Minimal pruning required; trim only dead or damaged wood in early spring to preserve its neat, columnar shape
- Pollination: As a male holly, it serves as an excellent pollinator—plant within 50 feet of female varieties to ensure optimal fruit set on those plants
Enhance your landscape with the timeless elegance of Castle Wall Holly—a dependable, low-maintenance accent that not only uplifts your outdoor space with year-round structure and interest but also supports the creation of show-stopping winter displays when paired with fruiting female hollies.
