Blue Holly

About this plant

Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Girl' is a captivating evergreen shrub known for its distinctive deep blue-green leaves, which provide exceptional color saturation throughout the year. This female cultivar boasts an abundance of small, bright red berries in fall and winter, offering a striking contrast against its unique foliage and providing essential food for local wildlife. Perfect for creating bold statements, hedges, or foundation plantings, 'Blue Girl' offers excellent cold hardiness and disease resistance. Its dense, upright habit makes it a versatile choice for a variety of garden designs, providing structure and beauty even in the colder months. To ensure a prolific berry display, plant 'Blue Girl' within 50 feet of a male Blue Holly pollinator, such as 'Blue Boy' or 'Blue Prince'. This pairing guarantees a vibrant show of winter interest that will stand out in any garden setting.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Blue Holly is a low-maintenance shrub once established. Prune in late winter or early spring to shape or remove any dead or damaged branches. Fertilize sparingly in spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer if needed. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.