Ilex meserveae 'Blue Maid' standard (Blue holly) — H90 cm | Pot Ø19 cm
- Regular price
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€56,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€56,95
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Frequently asked questions
When should a standard holly be pruned? Only in February–March, as the berries form on the previous year’s wood.
When is holly most decorative? From November to March, when its bright red berries stand out against the dark foliage while the rest of the garden lies dormant.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🔴 Red berries all winter • 🌿 Evergreen blue-green foliage • 🌳 Trained as a standard • ☀️ Sun to partial shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -25 °C
Ilex meserveae 'Blue Maid' has dark green evergreen foliage with bluish hues on purple branches, and is covered in bright red berries from November to March. A hybrid developed in the United States from Asian species, it is the only one of our patio shrubs whose decorative peak occurs in the middle of winter.
When fig trees and magnolias are bare and the blooms have disappeared, 'Blue Maid' is at its peak, covered in scarlet berries against dark foliage. It is also one of the most cold-resistant shrubs in the catalog.
Light & placement
Holly tolerates sun as well as partial shade, but fruiting is noticeably more abundant in a bright position.
- Position: sun to partial shade — 4 hours of direct sun is enough; more encourages berry production.
- Placement: patio, entrance, walkway, balcony — visible from indoors so you can enjoy the berries in winter.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -25 °C — no protection required.
- Soil type: well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic — holly does not tolerate highly chalky soils well.
'Blue Maid' is a female cultivar: it only produces berries if pollinated. A male holly nearby is sufficient, as pollination is carried out by bees over several dozen meters.
Watering & care
Holly requires a moist but well-drained substrate and does not tolerate extremes well. A balanced substrate works well in a pot, and the foliage always signals a problem before it worsens.
- Watering: regular — the substrate should remain moist from April to September, without ever becoming waterlogged.
- Drainage: essential — never leave standing water in the saucer.
- Pruning: light pruning in February–March, before flowering — summer pruning removes the following winter's berries.
- Suckers: remove shoots that appear along the trunk, as they spoil the standard form.
- Fertilizer: fertilizer for ericaceous shrubs, once at the beginning of spring.
Berries form on the previous year's wood: any pruning after spring sacrifices winter fruiting.
Decorating ideas & plant combinations
This is the plant that brings a patio to life in winter: dark foliage, purple branches and scarlet berries when everything else is dormant.
- To provide interest all year round, pair it with Magnolia stellata — the holly carries the winter, while the magnolia takes over from March.
- For a contrast of evergreen foliage, place a Eucalyptus 'Azura' next to it — airy blue-gray foliage against the holly's dense dark green.
- To frame an entrance, place two identical plants on either side of the door, in matching containers — the effect is especially striking in December.
- To extend the red color, complement it with a Photinia 'Carré Rouge' — the holly's winter berries echo the spring's red shoots.
A few branches cut in December are enough to create a table decoration: this is the traditional holly of the festive season.
Verdeia tips
- Prune only in February–March: berries form on the previous year's wood. Summer or autumn pruning removes all the fruiting for the following winter, which is this plant's main attraction.
- Rely on nearby pollination: 'Blue Maid' is female and only fruits after pollination. In the city, a male holly in a neighboring garden is usually sufficient, as bees travel several dozen meters.
- Place it within view from indoors: its highlight is winter, when we spend less time outside. A holly seen from a living room window is far more useful than one at the back of a patio.
Technical details
- Botanical name: Ilex × meserveae 'Blue Maid'
- Common name: Blue holly
- Family: Aquifoliaceae
- Origin: American hybrid, parent species native to East Asia
- Size on delivery: H90 cm | Pot Ø19 cm
- Habit: trained as a standard, dense and compact crown
- Height at maturity: 2 to 2.50 meters in a pot
- Position: sun to partial shade
- Watering: regular, with the substrate kept moist during the growing season
- Soil type: well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic
- Hardiness: down to -25 °C
- Growth: slow, light pruning at the end of winter
- Foliage: evergreen, dark green spiny leaves with bluish hues on purple branches
- Fruiting: bright red berries from November to March, on a pollinated female plant
- Care: easy
- Toxicity: toxic if ingested, with the berries of particular concern
- Decorative style: Classic / Natural / Winter
Every plant is unique: trunk height, crown density and berry abundance naturally vary according to age and pollination.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.