Ilex Meserveae Heckenfee Blue Holly

Ilex Meserveae Heckenfee or Ilex Meserveae Castle Spire, also known as Blue Holly Heckenfee
Evergreen Ilex Meserveae Heckenfee is a female, upright variety of the popular blue holly. Officially known as Ilex Meserveae Castle Spire, this cultivar was first selected in Germany in 1998 and is actually a cross between our native Ilex aquifolium and  Ilex rugosa. It is ideally suited for hedging purposes. The dark green foliage with an elegant gloss stays on the shrub throughout the year. It has a very dense growth habit that will protect your privacy. And, as the Blue Holly Heckenfee has prickly leaves, it will also deter pesky intruders. In addition to the stunning year-round foliage, Ilex Meserveae Castle Spire is coveted for its bright red berries which appear on the shrub in the autumn and persist on it throughout the winter, adding a splash of colour to the landscape and attracting birds to your garden.

Ilex Meserveae Castle Spire boasts an attractive pyramidal habit that will make it stand out in any landscape. As a female cultivar, it will need a male pollinator nearby in order to produce a profusion of crimson fruit. Consider for instance, Ilex Meserveae Heckenpracht or Ilex Meserveae Blue Prince.

Height and Spread of Ilex Meserveae Heckenfee
A vigorous yet compact evergreen shrub, Blue Holly Heckenfee will achieve a maximum height of 2 to 3 metres, with a spread of about 1 metre. As a result, this shrub will fit in beautifully in large and small gardens alike.

How Hardy is Ilex Meserveae Heckenfee
Ilex Meserveae Castle Spire is a remarkably tough and resilient cultivar. This holly variety is not only fully hardy in all areas of the United Kingdom, but it can also survive extremely low temperatures (up to -30) without sustaining any damage. It is also generally pest and disease free.

How To Use Ilex Meserveae Heckenfee
The lush evergreen foliage and dense growth habit make Ilex Meserveae Castle Spire ideal for hedging. However, it also does well in mixed shrub borders or as a specimen plant in smaller gardens- its blood red berries contrasted by deep green leathery foliage leave no one indifferent.

How To Care For Ilex Meserveae Heckenfee
This low-maintenance evergreen shrub does not need much to be happy. Plant Blue Holly Heckenfee in average, moist but well-drained soil, in a spot in full sun to partial shade and it will thrive.