Ilex x meserveae Blue Boy Holly zone 5; probably in most locations in zone 4 as well Habit and Form can grow up to 12' or even 15' tall, but most plants reach a mature height of 8' form varies with the cultivar, but is either pyramidal or rounded branching is horizontal to irregular generally dense and shrubby Summer Foliage leaves evergreen very dark almost blue green glossy margins with rather closely spaced teeth/spines 1.5" to 2.25" long 1 to 1.5" wide stems are bluish purple with green

Autumn Foliage

evergreen, so no fall color foliage turns slightly purple in the winter Flowers

dioecious, with male and female plants small white flowers in late April and early May flowers are numerous, but not overwhelmingly ornamental male plants are slightly showier in bloom Bark

green, except brown on only the very oldest wood generally hidden by the foliage Culture

grows best in full sun, but light shade is toleranted with more open growth resulting prefers moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soils, but it is relatively soil adaptable can be pruned to remove straying branches, but wholesale pruning is not necessary. although quite cold hardy, avoid very exposed windswept locations relatively carefree plant Landscape Use

foundation plant hedges barriers mass plantings useful for high quality evergreen foliage