Ilex ? meserveae ?Blue Boy

Blue Holly

Ilex × meserveae ‘Blue Boy’ is an evergreen holly valued for its glossy blue-green foliage, dense branching, and excellent cold hardiness. The leaves are moderately spined and maintain rich color through winter, giving the shrub strong evergreen presence. This is a male selection, so it does not produce berries but serves as an effective pollinator for female blue hollies such as Blue Girl® and Blue Angel®.

Type: Evergreen shrub
Mature Size: Width: 6–8 ft · Height: 8–10 ft
USDA Zones: 4a–7b

Form: Dense, upright-rounded

Light: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil

Water: Medium; prefers regular moisture during establishment

Wildlife: Provides shelter for birds

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for hedges, screening, foundation plantings, and as a pollinator for female blue hollies. Its blue-green foliage provides strong winter color in colder climates.

Care:
Plant in well-drained acidic soil and protect from drying winter winds in exposed sites. Prune in late winter or early spring if shaping is needed. Place near female blue hollies for reliable berry production.

Plant type

Broadleaf Evergreen

Height

8-10'

Width

6-8'

Hardiness zones

4–7

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Slow

Bloom time

Late Spring

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Dark Green

Fall color

Dark Green

Soil

Acidic, Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Foundation

Shape

Dense, Mounded, Upright

Bark

Smooth

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No