Picture by: Mark Griffiths on Country Life
Plant of the Week: Ilex Meservea
With varieties like ‘Blue Prince/ss Holly’, these evergreens are striking in the winter with their bright red berries against the blue-green foliage. Many people that have this plant in their landscape like to take cuttings to decorate for the winter.
As with the China Boy/Girl Holly, if you are looking to get berries on these, both male and female plants are needed. If you are looking to create a larger hedge, make sure you buy more females than males, as you only need 1 male plant per every 9-10 female plant.
How to care for Ilex Meserveae:
Ilex Meserveae like to be in full sun to partial shade. It also likes to be in moist, organically rich, acidic soil that is well drained.
Here are some pruning tips:
This shrub benefits from pruning in the winter, but take care as to which you prune out as berries and flowers grow on 2nd year growth. Doing a Renewal Pruning every year will help keep this shrub open to air flow and decrease the chances of getting diseases.
Garrick-Santo Landscape Co.
(781) 322-0006 — 110 Eames Street Wilmington, MA 01887
Proudly serving North Suburban Boston, North Shore, Merrimack Valley, Metro West since 1981
