Blue Princess Holly is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that produces showy red berries and grows in USDA zones 5-9. This female holly needs a male pollinator like Blue Prince within 30 feet to produce berries. Plant it for year-round privacy screening or wildlife habitat.

Blue Princess Holly typically reaches 8-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide at maturity. This upright evergreen grows at a moderate pace in zones 5-9. Allow adequate spacing when planting multiple specimens for privacy screening, available at naturehills.com.

Blue Princess Holly

Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Princess'

Nature Hills Nursery

Brilliant Red Berries Persist Through Winter for Extended Holiday Color
Thrives in Zones 5-9
Showy White Blooms in Late Spring
Excellent Privacy Screen or Hedge
Pollinator-Friendly - Attracts Songbirds

$81⁴²

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Plant Size

#3 Container

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Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Aim for full sun (at least 6 hours daily) to ensure the densest foliage and heaviest berry production. While it tolerates partial shade, too little light often results in a leggy habit and fewer of those signature red berries.
Soil: This shrub thrives in moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. If you are planting in heavy clay, mix in compost or pine bark to improve drainage because standing water can lead to root rot.

Watering Requirements

Keep the soil consistently moist during the first year to help the roots establish, acting like a lifeline for the young plant. Once mature, it is moderately drought tolerant, but you should still water deeply during dry spells to prevent fruit drop. It is critical to water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes to prevent the leaves from drying out during winter.

Pruning Tips

Plan your major pruning for late winter before the new growth starts to push. Because this holly blooms on new wood, cutting it back at this time encourages vigorous spring growth that will hold the season's flowers and berries.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants (like those for Azaleas) in early spring. Avoid feeding late in the summer, as high nitrogen can force soft growth that will be damaged by the first freeze.

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

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant 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, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Sunlight	Full sun, Partial shade
Height	8-12 ft
Width	6-8 ft
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	Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Princess'
Species	x meserveae
Cultivar	Blue Princess
Class	Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is this plant?

Blue Princess Holly is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that produces showy red berries and grows in USDA zones 5-9. This female holly needs a male pollinator like Blue Prince within 30 feet to produce berries. Plant it for year-round privacy screening or wildlife habitat.

Height?

Blue Princess Holly typically reaches 8-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide at maturity. This upright evergreen grows at a moderate pace in zones 5-9. Allow adequate spacing when planting multiple specimens for privacy screening, available at naturehills.com.

When does Blue Princess Holly bloom and what color are the flowers?

Blue Princess Holly blooms in spring with small, inconspicuous white flowers. While not showy to gardeners, these blooms are essential for berry production and attract bees and butterflies. Ensure a male pollinator like Blue Prince is planted within 30 feet for optimal berry set.

Is Blue Princess Holly deer resistant?

Blue Princess Holly is generally deer resistant due to its spiny, thick evergreen foliage that deer typically avoid. While no plant is completely deer-proof, hollies rank among the most reliable deer-resistant shrubs in zones 5-9. For best protection, plant in groupings rather than as isolated specimens.

How is the Blue Princess Holly packaged for shipping and what condition should I expect it in?

Blue Princess Holly ships as a healthy, well-rooted plant in a protective container to ensure safe arrival. You'll receive a vigorous specimen ready to establish in zones 5-9. Plant immediately upon arrival or keep watered until planting, available at naturehills.com.