Holly 'Dragon Lady'

Common name: Holly ‘Dragon Lady’

Botanical name: Ilex x aquipernyi ‘Meschick’

What it is: A narrow, upright evergreen holly with dark blue-green leaves and pea-sized red berries in fall and winter when pollinated by a male holly such as ‘Blue Prince’ or ‘Blue Stallion.’

Size: Grows about 15 feet tall and 5 feet wide in 10-12 years, but can be kept shorter or skinnier with an annual early-spring pruning.

Where to use: Makes an ideal evergreen specimen for house corners. Also useful for softening tall, windowless foundation walls; for flanking doorways, arbors or other entrances, and for hedging. Grows best in full sun to part shade. Just avoid soggy areas.

Why I like it: We have about 4 of them on our 1/3 acre property, so they stay a reasonable size without much pruning, or should I say without George pruning it very often. I love being able to use it for Christmas decorations. Most any color plants look good next to its dark green leaves. Birds like to nest in it.