Blue Princess Holly

Blue Princess holly is a female, evergreen selection of Meserve holly with dense blue-green spiny leaves, purple stems, and bright red berries. Monrovia lists it at 8–10 feet tall by 6–8 feet wide, while the RHS gives a broader mature range, so allow room for local growing conditions ([Monrovia](https://www.monrovia.com/blue-princess-holly.html); [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/73372/ilex-%C3%97-meserveae-blue-princess-conapri-f/details)). ## Landscape use Use it as a foundation shrub, hedge, privacy screen, border backdrop, or specimen. Small white flowers appear in spring; red fruit ripens in fall and persists into winter, offering food for birds. Blue Princess is female, so fruiting requires a compatible male pollinizer such as Blue Prince ([Monrovia](https://www.monrovia.com/blue-princess-holly.html); [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ilex-x-meserveae/common-name/blue-holly/)). ## Site and growing conditions Plant in full sun to part shade and in moist, organically rich soil that drains well and is slightly acidic. Afternoon shade and shelter from cold winter winds can help in demanding sites. Monrovia lists USDA Zones 5–9. Water deeply during the first growing season, then irrigate when the top couple of inches of soil dry ([Monrovia](https://www.monrovia.com/blue-princess-holly.html); [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ilex-x-meserveae/common-name/blue-holly/)). ## Maintenance Prune in winter as needed to shape; Monrovia recommends annual shaping. Allow space for the mature spread so the plant can retain its dense evergreen form with little shearing ([Monrovia](https://www.monrovia.com/blue-princess-holly.html); [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ilex-x-meserveae/common-name/blue-holly/)).