Blue Princess Holly
Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Princess'
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Specifications
| Plant Characteristics | Attracts Birds, Attracts pollinators, Cold hardy, Container Friendly, Deer-resistant, Evergreen, Full Sun, Hedge/Screen, Low Maintenance, Non-invasive, Ornamental Berries/Fruit, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant |
|---|---|
| Hardiness Zone | 5a to 7b |
| Sunlight | Full sun, Partial shade |
| Height | |
| Width | |
| Watering Needs | High |
| Preferred Soil | Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Growth Habit | Bushy, Upright |
| Blooms In | Spring |
| Flower Color | White |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Pet Safety | Toxic to pets |
| Suitable Space | Outdoors |
| Plant Name | Holly |
| Botanical Name | |
| Species | |
| Cultivar | |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Does Not Ship To | AK, HI, ID, MT, PR, UT |
Description
A beautiful member of the wildly popular Blue Holly series, the Blue Princess (Ilex x meservae) is a gorgeous, glossy broadleaf evergreen shrub with many commendable attributes! But most importantly, who can forget the berries...They are showy and will persist into the winter and set the stage for your Holiday décor. Birds love the berries and will love having a dense, year-round shelter to roost in and berries to snack on!
Blue Princess Holly will produce tiny white flowers to herald in the spring and while you may not see them, many hungry bees and butterflies will seek them out. These are not showy but are essential to berry production!
The purple stems and glossy blue-green leaves are just different enough from the usual summer greens that they will easily catch your eye year-round. You'll love the bright, formal look of this upright, proven plant. Blue Princess is hardy in both cold and hot climates and features superior color. Unless you live in the coldest, or driest parts of the United States, this evergreen Holly can be a mainstay in your landscape!
Blue Princess is a female plant that produces knockout red berries as long as there is a male pollinator, such as Blue Prince, nearby (within 30 feet). Pretty even without her Prince, the dense, blue-green foliage and classic, wide-toothed, spine-edged leaves stay evergreen for you all year round! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 9, these have few if any pest or disease issues.
The Blue Princess Holly is a cross of Ilex aquifolium and Ilex rugosa, one of the many of the Blue Hollies introduced by Mrs. F. Leighton Meserve. The goal with these crosses was to produce a traditional hybrid Holly that would be hardy for the colder climates!
Planting and Application:
These broadleaved evergreens are wildlife-friendly plants that can give you a fantastic sense of privacy. Plant a few of them at an angle from your house to shield your deck or patio from unwanted views. Or line them along a side yard to help muffle noise and increase privacy. Create lovely formal walls of an outdoor room with bright, shiny leaves all year long. Blue Princess is the canvas, and seasonal containers can be the "paint".
Place a pair of them as sentries on either side of a special garden feature, such as a wall-hung fountain. These formal plants play their role beautifully, and they really make a huge visual impact on a snowy day! Everything you plant in front of these shrubs becomes enhanced - so use these Holly bushes as hedges, backdrops and foundation plantings, either trimmed formally or allowed to grow informally.
This is a plant that truly shines in winter! The foliage will maintain its vibrant color throughout the winter, a striking contrast to drab grays and browns, plus the added benefit of those glossy red fruits. Adding a male pollinator will give you an abundant crop of delightfully cheery, round red berries each fall.
Bring cuttings inside as winter decorations. A gathered "bough" looks wonderful hung over doorways or as cuttings for your outdoor containers. Try your hand at pinning small sections of cuttings into place around a floral foam wreath. (Pro tip - wear gloves when you handle them.) We can sense a new Holiday tradition for you, your family, and your friends to enjoy!
- Decorative Blue-Green Leaves
- Glossy Broadleaf Evergreen Foliage
- White Spring Blossoms
- Persistent Bright Red Berries When a Male Blue Prince Pollinator Is Nearby
- Purple Stems For Contrast
- Hedges & Backdrops, Privacy & Year-Round Interest
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Plant Blue Prince in a well-drained soil location in full sun or partial shade. Water new plants regularly but mature and established plants only need a bit of supplemental moisture during drought. Holly are relatively easy to grow, with no significant disease or pest issues. All plants appreciate regular fertilizer and a 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch over the soil surface.
In areas of high pH, alkaline soil - fertilize with Dr. Earth Acid Lovers Organic and Natural All Purpose Fertilizer in early spring and mid-summer to help reduce soil pH. You can choose to prune them, or site them at the corner of your house and allow them to reach their full mature height and spread. The goal is to keep the shrub growing in a nice, open shape. Adding air circulation and light to the interior of your shrub will allow leaves to grow all the way along each branch.
A light pruning during the winter to harvest holiday décor can be used to selectively control size. When pruning, it's best not to simply shear the tips off with hedge pruners. Instead, conduct Renewal Pruning every few years to eliminate the oldest less vigorous stems and encourage new healthy growth from the base allowing the plants to keep their natural form and fruiting best.
- Sun to Partial Shade Loving
- Well-Drained Soil of Any Kind
- Moderate Water Needs
- Requires Blue Prince Pollinator To Enjoy The Red Fruit
- Pest and Disease Resistant
Glossy Holly leaves are exquisite landscape foliage shrubs. You'll love the way it shines in winter for you. No wonder this is a best-selling plant for Nature Hills. Order up to 3-5 Blue Princess Hollies for every 1 Blue Prince pollination partner to keep them full of red berries. Order today at NatureHills.com!
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping Rates
Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
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Big plants that arrived very healthy with new growth on them. Will be planting soon.
Hi Glen, Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a glowing review and for sharing some photos of your Blue Prince Holly - they look fantastic! We do our best to ensure quality plants are shipped to customers safe & sound! Thank you - Nature Hills Customer Support
They established well and are thriving
Hi Tiffany, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a lovely review! We are happy to hear that your Blue Princess Holly are thriving in their new homes. We appreciate you and hope your plants thrive for years to come! Thank you - Nature Hills Customer Support
These holly shrubs are beautiful. They arrived on time, filled with lots of leaves. I love them.
Came in great condition. I'll see how it survives this winter!
Super surprised at how these were large, full and healthy like what you would buy in person at stores. Definitely recommend and would buy again, thanks!
This bush was beautiful and larger than I anticipated!! Very healthy!!
I received my holly plants quickly. They were packaged perfectly and arrived in great condition. Nice, healthy plants. I would definitely buy from this seller again!
The China Boy arrived very fast and well-packed. The shrub was in great condition showing some new growth, lots of dark shiny leaves and a few small white flowers. I'm impressed, I really didn't think it would arrive in such good shape and so quickly. It's in the ground now and doing well, just have to wait until next spring to see how well it does overwinter.
It arrived quickly, appeared very healthy. The plant was actually quite a bit bigger than I expected. I'm pleased.
Was very skeptical about buying anything live online. Fed up with overpriced, half dead box store plants, I took the plunge and ordered this holly. Was delivered upright, in tact, undamaged on my doorstep in 2 days. Finally got round to planting it yesterday. Measures 46" tall, has berries already, dark glossy healthy leaves. So pleased. Going back to Nature Hills Nursery store to order rest of shrubs, whilst sitting on my couch, drinking coffee, saving my energy for all those holes I'm going to have to dig.
Product arrived well-packaged and in excellent condition. Plant was tall (app 2.5 ft), thick (app 2 ft wide), and healthy with moist soil. Well worth the money spent. I recently ordered a China Boy from Home Depot for a little less money. With that order, I received an 8 inch tall plant that an animal promptly stole! I recommend spending a little more money to get this exceptional plant.
I couldn’t find a male pollinator for the “ladies” that was in the same stage of early flowering as the females, if I could even find one at a nursery or big box store. I took a chance purchasing one from Amazon, and couldn’t be happier with the “boy.” Beautiful shape, color, size—perfect in every way—and arrived well packaged. And the price was very reasonable. Kudos!
After purchasing 3 China Girls locally, I discovered that if I wanted berries for the birds, I also needed a China. I was skeptical about purchasing one on Amazon but orderedand was pleasantly surprised when it arrived in great shape. It survived planting and is healthy and flourishing.
Haven’t been able to clean area due to pulled muscle but it came very healthy and is thriving.
Beautiful healthy plants! Well worth the money and they are well established going into winter.
Thriving
Dear Linnea,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback—“Thriving” says it all! We are delighted to hear that your plants are flourishing, which is exactly what we hope for every member of our Nature Hills family. If you ever have questions or want to explore new additions for your garden, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support your gardening journey every step of the way.
Growing with you,
Nature Hills Nursery – Your Trusted Plant Specialists
Thriving
Dear Linnea,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful feedback with us! We’re thrilled to hear that your plants are thriving — there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing nature flourish. If you ever have any questions or need tips on keeping your garden vibrant and healthy, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to support your gardening journey.
Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team
I bought this plant earlier this fall along with a china boy to pollinate it. It has grown very nicely and keep getting comments from friends about how them. Would buy or suggest to any friend.
Plant arrived in great shape. Love the red berries.
Very healthy.
Just found out I will need a Blue Prince so my Blue princess will get berries. I really do not need an excuse to get another holly as the love the color also.
Hi Louie,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the Blue Princess Holly! You’re absolutely right — adding a Blue Prince as a pollinator is the perfect way to encourage those lovely berries to develop, and what a wonderful excuse to add a new holly to your collection. Their complementary colors and growth habits really do make a stunning combination.
If you’d like, we can help you select an ideal Blue Prince for your area to maximize pollination success. Additionally, make sure both hollies are planted within about 20-30 feet of each other for the best berry production. If you have any questions about site selection, care tips, or planting times, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Enjoy growing your beautiful holly pair—berries and all!
Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team
Just found out I will need a Blue Prince so my Blue princess will get berries. I really do not need an excuse to get another holly as the love the color also.
Hi Louie,
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us! You’re absolutely right—pairing your Blue Princess Holly with a Blue Prince is a wonderful way to encourage those beautiful berries to form. It’s always a lovely excuse to add another vibrant holly to your landscape, especially when you already love the striking blue-green foliage of these plants.
If you haven’t already, placing your Prince and Princess hollies within 40 to 50 feet of each other will help optimize pollination. Also, honeybees and other pollinators play an essential role, so keeping your garden pollinator-friendly can boost berry production appear even more lush.
If you ever need additional planting tips or advice on creating complementary pairings in your garden, don’t hesitate to reach out. Happy holly hunting!
Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts
I love the color of the leaves. Every time I leave the house it gets my attention. this is a really nice plant!
Hi Woody,
Thank you so much for sharing your delightful feedback about your Blue Princess Holly! We're thrilled to hear the vibrant leaf color brings joy every time you leave your house—that's exactly what we hope for when providing our plants. If you ever want tips on caring for your holly to keep those stunning leaves rich and vivid, don’t hesitate to reach out. Helping our customers nurture their greens is always a pleasure!
Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team
I love the color of the leaves. Every time I leave the house it gets my attention. this is a really nice plant!
Dear Woody,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with your Blue Princess Holly! We're thrilled to hear that its vibrant leaf color captures your attention every time you step outside — there’s truly something special about plants that brighten up our day like that. If you ever want tips on keeping your holly looking its best year-round, such as the best light conditions or pruning advice, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts
This is a hardy bush that looks great all year long. It is especially striking in the winter months when red berries glow against the white snow. Makes a good hedge. Only problem would be if they are neglected, they can be difficult to bring back.
Hi Rob,
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughtful review of the Blue Princess Holly! We’re thrilled to hear that you appreciate its hardiness and striking winter appearance—those vibrant red berries truly do bring a special delight during the snowy season. You’re absolutely right about its suitability as a beautiful hedge, and it’s great to know you’ve observed that firsthand.
We also appreciate your note about the plant needing care to bounce back if neglected. To keep your Blue Princess Holly at its best, regular watering during dry spells and pruning of any damaged branches can help maintain its health and shape. If you ever want tips on nursing it back or enhancing your hedge, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help!
Thank you again for planting with us and sharing your time and experience.
Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team
This is a hardy bush that looks great all year long. It is especially striking in the winter months when red berries glow against the white snow. Makes a good hedge. Only problem would be if they are neglected, they can be difficult to bring back.
Hello rob_hallock,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with the Blue Princess Holly! We’re thrilled to hear that its year-round beauty and striking winter berries have brought so much charm to your garden. You’re absolutely right—these hollies make an excellent hedge and do give a wonderful pop of color in the snow.
We appreciate your insight about their resilience as well. Indeed, while they are hardy, a little consistent care goes a long way to keeping them thriving and preventing any decline. If you ever notice signs of neglect, some regular watering during dry spells, mulch to conserve moisture, and occasional pruning to encourage new growth can help revive and maintain their beautiful form.
Feel free to check out our online care guides or reach out if you'd like tailored advice—We're always happy to support your journey with these lovely hollies!
Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team
