Meserveae Holly Ilex x meserveae
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks MESS-erv-ay
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Meserve holly is a hybrid evergreen shrub in the Aquifoliaceae family. It resulted from a cross between I. aquifolium (noted for its winter hardiness) and I. rugosa (an English-style holly) by Kathleen Meserve of St. James New York. Her hybrid is intended to create an English holly that withstands harsh northeastern winters and includes a number of cultivars collectively known as meserve hollies.
These bushy hollies typically grow to 6 to 8 feet tall, although some occasionally reach 15 feet. The foliage of this plant is remarkably similar to that of Ilex x xaquipernyi, but the more numerous spines are flexible and almost rubbery and leaves are not convex. The purplish twigs of meserve holly also serve to distinguish between the two. As expected, this plant is tolerant of the cold, with excellent winter hardiness to USDA Zone 5, and is a rapid grower.
Meserve holly does best in average, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. If planting in a zone with hot summers, site the plant where it will get some afternoon shade and in locations protected from cold winter winds. Prune in the winter as needed to maintain shape. Meserve Hollies are dioecious (separate male and female plants) and female plants require a male plant in the vicinity to pollinate and produce fruit. As a general rule of thumb, you should plant one male for every 3 to 5 female plants. The cultivar 'Blue Prince' is typically used as the male plant
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential insect problems include holly leaf miner, spider mites, whitefly, and scale. Potential disease problems include leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot, and powdery mildew. Also susceptible to leaf drop, leaf scorch and chlorosis (yellowing of leaves in high pH soils).
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Prince'
Male polinator. Not reliably winter hardy. 8 to 12 foot dense shrub. - 'Blue Princess'
Female plant. Showy fruit. Not reliably winter hardy. 8 to 12 foot dense shrub. - 'Hachfee'
Female plant. AKA 'Castle Spire'. 8 to 10 feet high, 4 feet wide. - 'Heckenstar'
Male plant. AKA 'Castle Wall'. 8 to 10 feet tall, 4 feet wide, dense shrub.
- 'Blue Prince'
- 'Blue Prince', 'Blue Princess', 'Hachfee', 'Heckenstar'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Prince'
Male polinator. Not reliably winter hardy. 8 to 12 foot dense shrub. - 'Blue Princess'
Female plant. Showy fruit. Not reliably winter hardy. 8 to 12 foot dense shrub. - 'Hachfee'
Female plant. AKA 'Castle Spire'. 8 to 10 feet high, 4 feet wide. - 'Heckenstar'
Male plant. AKA 'Castle Wall'. 8 to 10 feet tall, 4 feet wide, dense shrub.
- 'Blue Prince'
- 'Blue Prince', 'Blue Princess', 'Hachfee', 'Heckenstar'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- I. aquifolium x I. rugosa
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Norhteastern United States
- Distribution:
- Northern, mid-Atlantic, and states south to the Carolinas.
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer damage
- Edibility:
- Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3b, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Showy bright red berries on female plants in fall, often persisting until spring.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, greenish-white to pink-white flowers that bloom in spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate, acute, cuneate, coriaceous, and dark green to blue green in color. They are spinose with 4 to 8 (sometimes 16) flexible, prominent and ascending spines per margin. Grow between 1 to 2 1/2 inches long. Leaves have a leathery feel to them.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are stout and reddish-purple in color. Stems have a triangular, stipular scar.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and depression. Leaves and berries are low toxicity and it is only in very large doses that problems are likely to arise. Fruits particularly poisonous to children.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Saponins
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
