China Girl Holly Live Plant – 6-12 Inch Tall Evergreen Shrub – 1 Quart Pot

Overview

Transform your garden with the captivating China Girl Holly live plant. This exceptional evergreen shrub, scientifically known as Ilex × meserveae ‘China Girl’, is renowned for its dense, dark green foliage and abundant, vivid red berries. Perfect for adding year-round structure and vibrant color to any landscape, the China Girl Holly live plant grows to a manageable size, making it a versatile choice for various garden designs. Its striking appearance and hardiness make it a favorite among gardeners seeking both beauty and resilience. As a female variety, it requires a male pollinator, such as ‘China Boy’ holly, to produce its signature berries, which provide excellent winter interest and a food source for birds.

Originating from a hybrid cultivation in the United States, this plant offers a classic, elegant look that complements both traditional and contemporary garden styles. Whether you’re looking to create a formal hedge, an informal border, or a stunning focal point, the China Girl Holly live plant is an excellent selection. It arrives as a healthy, robust plant, typically 6-12 inches tall, in a 1 quart pot, ready for planting and establishment in your garden.

Key Benefits

The China Girl Holly live plant offers a multitude of benefits, making it an indispensable addition to any garden. Its robust nature and aesthetic appeal ensure a stunning and low-maintenance landscape.

• Year-Round Appeal: Enjoy dense, glossy, dark green evergreen foliage that provides color and structure throughout all seasons, even in winter when many other plants are dormant. The vibrant red berries add a spectacular splash of color against the snow.
• Excellent for Hedges and Screens: Its dense growth habit makes it perfect for creating beautiful, effective hedges, privacy screens, and foundation plantings that offer both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits.
• Vibrant Berry Display: When paired with a male pollinator like ‘China Boy’, the China Girl Holly live plant produces an abundance of bright red berries that persist through winter, offering a stunning visual display and attracting local wildlife.
• Hardy and Adaptable: This holly is remarkably hardy, thriving in USDA zones 4-9, and tolerates cold climates well. It is also drought-tolerant once established, requiring less water over time.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, the evergreen holly shrub is relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal pruning to maintain its desired shape and size.
• Ornamental Value: Beyond its practical uses, its elegant form and colorful berries make it a highly ornamental plant, enhancing the beauty and curb appeal of your home.
• Wildlife Attraction: The bright red berries provide a valuable food source for birds during the colder months, bringing life and activity to your garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your China Girl Holly live plant is straightforward, ensuring a thriving and beautiful addition to your garden. This hardy shrub prefers a specific set of conditions to reach its full potential, particularly in berry production and overall vigor. For best results, consider its light, soil, and watering needs carefully. The Ilex meserveae China Girl is known for its resilience and can adapt to various conditions once established.

For optimal growth and berry production, plant your ornamental holly plant in a location that receives full sun to partial shade, ideally at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. While it tolerates partial shade, more sun generally leads to a more prolific berry display. The ideal soil is moist, well-drained, and slightly acidic. Avoid overly alkaline or dry soils, which can hinder its growth. When planting, incorporate organic matter to improve soil structure and fertility. Space plants 4-6 feet apart if you are planning to create a hedge or screen, allowing adequate room for mature growth.

Water your holly for hedges regularly during its first growing season to help establish a strong, deep root system. Once established, the plant becomes drought-tolerant, though occasional watering during prolonged dry spells will be beneficial. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges, or after the berries have faded, to maintain shape and size. Watch out for common pests like holly leaf miner or scale insects, and treat with appropriate organic or chemical controls if necessary. The hardiness of this plant in USDA zones 4-9 means it can withstand significant temperature fluctuations, making it a reliable choice for many regions.

Size & Details

This offering includes two healthy China Girl Holly live plant specimens, each standing approximately 6-12 inches tall. They are individually grown and shipped in a 1 quart nursery pot, ensuring a well-established root system ready for transplanting into your garden. The plants are carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit, arriving in excellent condition. Expect these evergreen shrubs to reach a mature height and spread of 8-10 feet, forming a dense, rounded shape. The growth rate is moderate, allowing you to enjoy their beauty without them quickly outgrowing their space. The berries typically appear in fall and persist through winter, providing extended seasonal interest. These plants are shipped as live, actively growing specimens, ready to be incorporated into your landscape design, whether for a hedge, foundation planting, or as an attractive standalone shrub.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this China Girl Holly live plant get? A: This evergreen shrub typically reaches a mature height and spread of 8-10 feet, forming a dense, rounded bush. Its moderate growth rate allows for easy management and shaping.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: Each plant in this set comes in a 1 quart nursery pot, ensuring a healthy root system and readiness for transplanting into your garden or a larger container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The China Girl Holly live plant is an outdoor plant, hardy in USDA zones 4-9. It thrives in garden settings as a hedge, screen, or ornamental shrub.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For best growth and berry production, it requires full sun to partial shade, ideally receiving at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. More sun generally means more berries.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, the evergreen holly shrub is considered relatively low-maintenance. It is drought-tolerant and requires minimal pruning to maintain shape.
• Q: What condition will the plants arrive in? A: Your plants will arrive as healthy, actively growing specimens, carefully packaged to ensure minimal stress during transit. They will be ready for immediate planting upon arrival.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this ornamental holly plant? A: Spring or fall are ideal times for transplanting, as these periods avoid extreme heat or frost, allowing the plant to establish its roots effectively.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, the Ilex meserveae China Girl is very cold hardy and thrives in USDA zones 4-9, making it suitable for a wide range of climates and able to withstand cold winters.
• Q: Does this holly produce berries? A: As a female cultivar, the China Girl Holly live plant will produce abundant red berries, but it requires a male holly pollinator (such as ‘China Boy’) planted nearby to do so.
• Q: Can I use this holly for hedges? A: Absolutely! Its dense growth habit and attractive foliage make it an excellent choice for creating formal or informal hedges and privacy screens, providing year-round appeal.