Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Princess'
Blue Princess Meserve Hybrid Holly
- Family
- Aquifoliaceae
- Height
- 6 to 8 feet
- Width
- 4 to 6 feet
- Flower color
- Small white flowers
- Foliage color
- Dark blue-green
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Average water needs
- Maintenance
- Low, but may need pruning to maintain shape
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- Attracts birds, particularly in winter, due to its bright red berries
About this plant
Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Princess' is a hybrid holly that is prized for its glossy, blue-green evergreen foliage, which provides year-round interest. This female variety is particularly notable for its ability to produce bright red berries when paired with a male holly such as 'Blue Prince'. These showy berries appear in the fall and persist through the winter, adding vibrant color to the landscape, especially against snowy backdrops. It typically blooms in the spring with inconspicuous white flowers that do not detract from the plant's decorative qualities.
Originating from hybridization efforts to create a holly that is hardy enough for colder climates, 'Blue Princess' is part of the Meserve hollies, which were developed by Kathleen K. Meserve in the 1950s. This cultivar thrives in a range of conditions, from full sun to partial shade, and is frequently used in hedging or as a privacy screen due to its dense growth habit.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Hedging & Privacy · Bird Gardens · Winter Interest
Companion plants
Thyme · Switch grasses · Catmint · Penstemons · Coreopsis · Blanket flower
Design tip
Use ‘Blue Princess’ where its evergreen foliage and winter berries can provide a year-round backdrop. The glossy blue-green leaves create dense structure, while bright red berries add prominent fall and winter color, especially when positioned where they can be easily seen during the colder months.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
