China Holly

About this plant

Ilex X Meserveae 'China Boy' (China Holly) is a distinguished broadleaf evergreeen shrub, celebrated for its handsome, dark green foliage and strong pyramidal habit. This male cultivar is primarily grown for its excellent pollination capabilities, ensuring a bountiful berry set on nearby female hollies like 'China Girl'. Its dense branching structure provides excellent cover and winter interest in any landscape. 'China Boy' boasts an exceptionally hardy nature, thriving in a variety of conditions and performing admirably even in colder climates. Its compact size makes it a versatile choice for foundation plantings, hedging, or as a striking specimen plant. The glossy leaves and deep coloration bring an enduring elegance to the garden, maintaining their vibrant hue throughout the seasons. This resilient holly requires minimal maintenance once established, making it an ideal choice for both seasoned gardeners and those new to horticulture. Its strong constitution and architectural form ensure a beautiful and enduring presence in your landscape for years to come.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Requires well-drained soil. Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain desired shape and size. Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring for optimal growth.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.