Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Princess' - Blue Princess Holly

Blue Princess Holly is a tall broadleaf evergreen shrub with blue-green toothed leaves and purple stems.  If pollinated, the inconspicuous female flowers give way to abundant dark red fruit that can persist well into winter.  Best planted in moist, slightly acidic well-drained soils.  Hollies are dioecious and need both male and female plants to produce fruit.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Low Maintenance.  Water regularly.   Well-drained soils essential.   Potential issues include mites, scale, leaf spot, rot, and mildew.  Susceptible to leaf scorch or drop if not protected from afternoon sun in hotter climates.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, Privacy Screen, Hedges, Foundation Plantings, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS: Magnolia, Rhododendron, Hydrangea

Image: Photo by David J. Stang, Ilex x meserveae Blue Princess 2zz, CC BY-SA 4.0