PlantFiles: Blue Holly, Meserve Holly, Meserve Hybrid Holly
Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Boy'

The Blue Hollies are so named because the dark green foliage has a blue overcast. The bark on young twigs is purplish. Many male and female cultivars are available and both must be grown in order to obtain fruit production on the females. Although the plants are fairly hardy, foliage can still be injured during severe winters in northern areas. Hardiness Zones: 5 to 7; Height: 8-12 ft; Spread: 8-12 ft; Form: rounded; Type: broad-leaved evergreen shrub; Annual Growth Rate: 12 to 18 inches. There are several cultivars of Ilex x meserveae including, Blue Girl, Blue Prince, Blue Princess, Ebony Magic, Blue Stallion, China Boy, China Girl, Golden Girl and Blue Maid. (Ref. Michigan State University Extension) This is a new plant acquisition here for 2006, and I'm sure within a couple years I can adequately evaluate it. I bought it primarily as a pollinator for Blue Girl, and I'm hoping it will also pollinate my native holly Ilex opaca as well.