Ilex × meserveae
Common name:
Meserve Hybrid Holly
Pronunciation:
I-leks x me-SERV-ee-ie
Family:
Aquifoliaceae
Genus:
Type:
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
No
- Broadleaf evergreen shrub to 10-15 ft (3-4.5 m). Purplish stems. Leaves alternate, simple, often dark green or blue-green, spiny margin, resembling small-leaved I. aquifolium, size varies with cultivar, about 2.5 to 6.5 cm long. Flowers white to pink-white. Fruit red; several male and female forms.
- Sun
- Hardy to USDA Zone (4)5 Hardiest of the hollies that have the stereotypic "holly" look.
- Kathleen K. Meserve of St. James, New York, made crosses between the hardy species, I. rugosa, native to northern Japan, and I. aquifolium, the English Holly, which resulted in a series of plant introductions. These are called "Blue Hollies" and many have selection names beginning with "blue", e.g., 'Blue Girl', 'Blue Boy', some of the selections have trademarked plants name, e.g., Blue Prince®, Blue Princess®, etc.
- Additionally, Ms. Meserve developed several selections from crosses of I. cornuta and I. aquifolium, including China Boy® [male (pollenizer), syn. 'Mesdob'] and China Girl® (female, syn. 'Mesog'), the latter has vivid red-orange fruit.
- Oregon State Univ. campus: east side Market Place West (West Hall), selection Blue Princess® with a few Blue Prince® (pollinizer).
Click image to enlarge
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plant habit
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branches with fruit
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fruit and leaves
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fruit and leaves
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stem and leaves
