Woody > Ilex > Ilex x meserveae > Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Prince'
Ilex x meserveae
'Blue Prince'
Blue Prince ® Holly
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.
Mike'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.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Aquifoliaceae |
| Genus |
| Ilex |
| Species |
| x meserveae |
| Cultivar |
| 'Blue Prince' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Registered Name |
| Blue Prince ® |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 6a - 6b |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-26) - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -20 |
| Height |
| 5 m |
| Spread |
| 3 m |
Photographs
Awards
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Beautiful dark blue-green foliage on reddish-purple stems. Generally a shrub form. |
| Cultivation |
| Well drained soil in partial to full sun. |
| Shape |
| Broadly pyramidal. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| 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. |
| Pests |
| Deer resistant. |
| 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. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. |
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