Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Prince' (Blue Prince ® Holly )
Michael's Opinion
A hybrid evergreen male holly with good, very dark green, glossy foliage and an excellent pollinator for a variety of other hollies. That said, the Ilex x meserveae cultivars are mediocre in performance in our zone, and are a poor substitute for what I call the proper holly, Ilex aquifolium.
Botanical Information
| Family | Aquifoliaceae |
| Genus | Ilex |
| Species | x meserveae |
| Cultivar | 'Blue Prince' |
| Registered Name | Blue Prince ® |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Mrs. F. Leighton Meserve of St. James, New York, United States of America produced a series of initial hybrids beginning ini 1964 which were introduced through the Conard-Pyle Nursery in New York state. Blue Prince was introduced in 1972 and results in a cross selected from I. rugosa x I. aquifolium. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 5 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 6a - 6b |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H7 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | (-26) - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) | -20 |
| Height | 5 m |
| Spread | 3 m |
| Growth | Slow |
| Flowering Period | May |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Beautiful dark blue-green foliage on reddish-purple stems. Generally a shrub form. |
| ID Characteristic | Leathery broad leaf evergreen leaves that may be prone to winter desiccation. Forming a loose, open shrub if left unclipped or pruned. Leaves have 4-8 spines on each side of the leaf and are quite leathery in texture. |
| Shape | Broadly pyramidal. |
| Cultivation | Well drained soil in partial to full sun. |
| Pests | Deer resistant. |
| Notable Specimens | The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Stout, often with ridges, reddish-purple. |
| Leaf Description | Alternate, simple, evergreen, leathery, spiny 4-8 spines per margin. Leaves 4 cm across and 8 cm in length. |
| Flower Description | Male flowers are often insignificant, held in loose clusters in leaf axils, green-white in colour, 2-6 mm across. |
| Colour Description | Lustrous green with reddish-purple stems. |
| Texture Description | Leaves are almost plastic feeling with pointed spines forming a very rigid outline. |
Photographs
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