Blue Holly
Ilex x meserveae
An evergreen shrub featuring dense, glossy, dark bluish-green leaves with distinctive spiny margins and small red spherical structures in autumn and winter.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, requiring approximately 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Water
- Requires regular watering to maintain consistently moist soil, though established plants tolerate occasional dry periods. Ensure proper drainage to prevent waterlogged roots.
- Growth
- Dense, upright, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a moderate growth rate, typically reaching mature heights of 6 to 15 feet and spreads of 5 to 8 feet depending on the specific cultivar.
Care instructions
Plant in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-draining acidic soil. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, requiring approximately 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Watering
Requires regular watering to maintain consistently moist soil, though established plants tolerate occasional dry periods. Ensure proper drainage to prevent waterlogged roots.
Soil
Prefers rich, organic, well-draining soil with an acidic pH range between 4.5 and 6.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 7.
Growth habit
Dense, upright, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a moderate growth rate, typically reaching mature heights of 6 to 15 feet and spreads of 5 to 8 feet depending on the specific cultivar.
Bloom season
Flowers in late spring with small, inconspicuous white blossoms followed by bright red spherical structures appearing in autumn.
Propagation
Propagated primarily through semi-hardwood stem cuttings taken in summer, treated with rooting hormone, and placed in a humid propagation environment.
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient, but susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils and leaf miners or scale insects, which can be managed with appropriate horticultural oils or insecticides.
Similar species
American Holly (Ilex opaca), which features larger leaves and a taller, more tree-like growth habit compared to the compact and densely branched Blue Holly.