Emerald Colonnade Holly
Best evergreen shrub for creating formal privacy screens and structured hedges.
The Emerald Colonnade® Holly is a handsome, male evergreen shrub prized for its natural pyramidal form, making it an excellent choice for hedges, screens, or windbreaks. It features dense, glossy, bright green foliage that responds well to shearing, allowing it to be shaped into formal accents or topiaries. This versatile plant produces small, cream-colored flowers but does not bear berries. It thrives in full sun and requires consistent moisture, especially during establishment, adapting well to various soil types if drainage is adequate. Its upright habit makes it a superb structural element in landscape design.
$54.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
34
/ 2609
#34 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
+40%
Above average
Mature Height
12
/ feet
Who it's for
- Urban gardeners wanting a resilient, low-maintenance evergreen
- Gardeners needing vertical structure in tight, narrow spaces
- Homeowners seeking consistent, year-round privacy screening
Who should skip it
- Busy homeowners wanting a completely hands-off, zero-pruning plant
- Impatient gardeners requiring immediate, tall privacy screens
- Gardeners dealing with heavy, poorly draining clay soil
Performance breakdown
Structural Integrity
Natural pyramidal form provides a clean, architectural silhouette for formal landscapes.
Maintenance Versatility
Dense foliage responds beautifully to shearing for custom topiary or hedges.
Screening Capability
Upright habit and dense growth create an effective, year-round privacy barrier.
Mess-Free Habit
Male variety eliminates the seasonal cleanup associated with falling berries.
Environmental Adaptability
Thrives in various soil types provided drainage remains consistent and reliable.
Growth Predictability
Medium growth rate allows for manageable, steady development in garden spaces.
Key Specs
Mature Height
12 feet
Mature Width
8 feet
Light Requirement
Full Sun
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green
Growth Rate
Medium
Hardiness Zone
7
Water Needs
Average to Moist
Features
- Maintains a natural, dense pyramidal shape
- Foliage is glossy and bright green
- Tolerant of shearing for formal shaping or topiary
- Excellent for use as a formal accent or screen
- Male plant, meaning it does not produce berries
- Attracts birds
What customers say
Consumers consistently celebrate the exceptional quality and architectural design of the Emerald Colonnade Holly. Reviewers frequently note the plants arrive healthy and robust, establishing quickly with minimal fuss. The columnar shape is highly valued for creating elegant, reliable privacy screens or striking vertical accents in the landscape. This holly is seen as a premium investment that delivers on its promise of reliable, low maintenance beauty.
Know before you buy
No, this is a male variety and does not produce berries. It is an excellent choice if you want a clean landscape without the mess of dropped fruit.
Since this shrub reaches a mature width of 8 feet, you should space them approximately 6 to 7 feet apart if you want the branches to eventually touch and create a solid, dense screen.
Yes, the Emerald Colonnade Holly responds very well to shearing. You can prune it regularly to maintain a specific height or shape, making it suitable for formal accents or topiaries.
This variety is hardy in Zone 7. If you live in a region with significantly colder winters, it may struggle to survive or thrive, so it is best suited for temperate climates.
This plant requires full sun to maintain its dense, pyramidal form. If planted in too much shade, the foliage may become sparse and the plant may lose its structural integrity.
Once established, it is relatively easy to care for, though it does prefer consistent moisture. You will only need to prune it if you wish to maintain a specific formal shape or size.
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Ready to buy?
$55