Ilex × meserveae 'Blue Maid'

Ilex × meserveae 'Blue Maid'

15L pot • Supplied approximately 70cm tall

Plant Highlights: Glossy blue-green evergreen foliage • Bright red winter berries on female plants • Dense, upright habit • Excellent for screening and hedging • Year-round garden interest

Overview

Ilex × meserveae 'Blue Maid' is a hardy evergreen holly valued for its attractive blue-green, glossy foliage and naturally dense, upright growth. It provides excellent year-round structure in the garden and makes an elegant specimen or informal evergreen screen.

As a female cultivar, 'Blue Maid' can produce an impressive display of bright red berries in autumn and winter when a compatible male holly such as Ilex × meserveae 'Blue Prince' is growing nearby for pollination. The colourful berries contrast beautifully with the evergreen foliage and provide valuable seasonal interest.

Why We Love It

• Attractive blue-green evergreen foliage throughout the year.
• Bright red berries provide excellent autumn and winter colour when pollinated.
• Naturally dense habit is ideal for screening and specimen planting.
• Very hardy and well suited to Irish gardens.
• Provides valuable shelter and seasonal interest in the landscape.

Plant Details

Growing Guide

Position

Plant in full sun or partial shade. A sheltered position will help protect the evergreen foliage from strong, drying winds.

Watering

Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells, particularly if planted in lighter soils.

Soil

Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Avoid prolonged waterlogging.

Hardiness and Winter Care

This evergreen shrub is fully hardy throughout Ireland and requires no routine winter protection once established. Mulching annually will help retain soil moisture and improve soil condition.

Routine Care

Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain shape and remove any damaged or crossing branches. Minimal pruning is generally required.

Perfect For

• Evergreen screening and informal hedging.
• Specimen planting.
• Wildlife-friendly gardens.
• Woodland edges.
• Mixed shrub borders.

Good to Know

'Blue Maid' is a female holly. For reliable berry production, a compatible male Ilex × meserveae such as 'Blue Prince' should be planted nearby to provide pollination. The supplied height of approximately 70cm refers to the plant at the time of sale and not its mature size.

Product Information

• Botanical name: Ilex × meserveae 'Blue Maid'
• Supplied in a 15L nursery pot.
• Supplied approximately 70cm tall.