Ilex × meserveae ‘Blue Girl’
Overview
Uses: Hedges, screens, foundation plantings, and winter berry displays.
Benefits: A female blue holly with glossy, spiny, blue-green evergreen leaves on purple stems. With a male holly such as Blue Prince or Castle Wall® planted nearby, it sets bright red berries that last into winter and feed birds.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Pyramidal, Upright — dense and bushy.
Foliage Color: Glossy Dark Green with a blue sheen
Mature Height: 8–10 feet
Mature Width: 6–8 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Glossy blue-green leaves and bright red berries carry this holly through the darkest months of the year.
Blue Girl is one of the original blue hollies, a group bred on Long Island by crossing English holly with the cold-tolerant prostrate holly. It has the spiny, polished leaves of English holly with a cool blue-green cast, set off by dark purple stems, and it stands up to winters that English holly cannot.
It grows into a dense, upright pyramid about eight to ten feet tall and six to eight feet wide. Planted in a row, it makes a hedge or screen that stays green and solid all year; on its own, it anchors the corner of a house or the back of a border.
Blue Girl is a female plant. With a male blue holly growing nearby, it sets red berries that color up in fall and often hang on well into winter, bringing color to the yard and food for birds late in the season.
Care
Blue Girl Holly Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Fuller sun gives a denser plant and a heavier berry set.
Blue hollies prefer slightly acidic, well-drained soil with some organic matter. Avoid heavy ground that stays waterlogged. In strongly alkaline soil the leaves can turn yellowish.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first year. Evergreens lose moisture through their leaves all winter, so water well in fall before the ground freezes and keep a two-to-three-inch layer of mulch over the roots.
In the colder part of its range, choose a site out of strong winter wind and harsh afternoon winter sun, which can brown the leaves. Feed with a slow release fertilizer in early spring, ideally one suited to acid-loving plants.
Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. It takes shearing well for a formal hedge, or can be lightly thinned for a natural shape. Branches cut in December make long-lasting holiday greenery.
Size
What Size is the Blue Girl Holly for Sale Online?
Our Blue Girl Holly ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Blue Girl Holly Grow?
Expect about 8 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide at maturity, in an upright, pyramidal shape. For a hedge, space plants about 4 to 5 feet apart; as individual specimens, allow 6 to 8 feet between plants.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is usually called blue holly or Meserve holly, after the breeder of the original blue hollies.
Do I need a male holly for berries?
Yes. Hollies are either male or female, and only females bear fruit. Plant a male blue holly, such as Blue Prince or Castle Wall®, within about 30 to 40 feet so bees can carry pollen between them. One male can pollinate several females. Without a male, Blue Girl still makes an attractive evergreen, just without berries.
How does Blue Girl compare to Blue Maid and Blue Princess?
All three are female blue hollies with red berries. Blue Girl is one of the first introduced and stays in the 8 to 10 foot range. Blue Maid grows larger and is known for its cold tolerance, and Blue Princess is valued for an especially heavy berry set. All of them can share the same male pollinator. Browse more Evergreen Plants.
Is it a good choice for a privacy screen?
Yes. Its dense, spiny branches block views all year and discourage foot traffic along property lines. For a screen, plant in a row at hedge spacing and let the plants grow together. For more screening options, see our Privacy Trees & Shrubs.
