{"product_id":"ilex-meserveae-blue-maid-sur-tige","title":"Ilex meserveae 'Blue Maid' standard (blue holly) — H90 cm | Pot Ø19 cm","description":"\u003csection class=\"product-content verdeia-product\" id=\"ilex-blue-maid\"\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-intro\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"product-highlights\"\u003e🔴 Red berries all winter • 🌿 Evergreen blue-green foliage • 🌳 Trained on a standard • ☀️ Sun to partial shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -25 °C\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"product-description-lead\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eIlex meserveae 'Blue Maid'\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003cstrong\u003eUnited States\u003c\/strong\u003e from Asian species, it is the only one of our \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/mini-arbustes-vivaces-urbaines\"\u003epatio shrubs\u003c\/a\u003e whose decorative peak occurs in the middle of winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"product-description-lead\"\u003eWhen 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 catalogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"product-section\" id=\"exposition-emplacement\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePosition \u0026amp; placement\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHolly tolerates Sun as well as partial shade, but fruiting is noticeably more abundant in a bright position.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e sun to partial shade — 4 hours of direct sun is enough; more encourages berry production.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement:\u003c\/strong\u003e patio, entrance, walkway, balcony — visible from indoors so you can enjoy the berries in winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness in a pot:\u003c\/strong\u003e down to -25 °C — no protection required.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil type:\u003c\/strong\u003e well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic — holly does not tolerate highly chalky soils well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"micro-tip\"\u003e'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 metres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"product-section\" id=\"arrosage-entretien\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering \u0026amp; care\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHolly requires a moist but well-drained substrate and does not tolerate extremes well. A \u003ca href=\"\/en\/blogs\/conseils\/comprendre-substrats-terreau-billes-argile-perlite\"\u003ebalanced substrate\u003c\/a\u003e works well in a pot, and the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/blogs\/conseils\/langage-des-plantes-decoder-signaux\"\u003efoliage always signals a problem before it worsens\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e regular — the substrate should remain moist from April to September, without ever becoming waterlogged.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrainage:\u003c\/strong\u003e essential — never leave standing water in the saucer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e light pruning in February–March, before flowering — summer pruning removes the following winter's berries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuckers:\u003c\/strong\u003e remove shoots that appear along the trunk, as they spoil the standard form.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFertiliser:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertiliser for ericaceous shrubs, once at the beginning of spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"micro-tip\"\u003eBerries form on the previous year's wood: any pruning after spring sacrifices winter fruiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"product-section\" id=\"associations-deco\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDecorating ideas \u0026amp; plant combinations\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the plant that brings a \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/balcons-terrasses\"\u003epatio\u003c\/a\u003e to life in winter: dark foliage, purple branches and scarlet berries when everything else is dormant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTo provide interest all year round,\u003c\/strong\u003e pair it with \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/magnolia-stellata-sur-tige\"\u003eMagnolia stellata\u003c\/a\u003e — the holly carries the winter, while the magnolia takes over from March.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFor a contrast of evergreen foliage,\u003c\/strong\u003e place an \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/eucalyptus-gunnii-azura-sur-tige\"\u003eEucalyptus 'Azura'\u003c\/a\u003e beside it — airy blue-grey foliage against the holly's dense dark green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTo frame an entrance,\u003c\/strong\u003e place two identical plants on either side of the door, in \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/fibre-naturelle-rotin\"\u003ematching containers\u003c\/a\u003e — the effect is especially striking in December.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTo extend the red colour,\u003c\/strong\u003e complement it with a \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/photinia-fraseri-carre-rouge-sur-tige\"\u003ePhotinia 'Carré Rouge'\u003c\/a\u003e — the holly's winter berries echo the spring's red shoots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"micro-tip\"\u003eA few branches cut in December are enough to create a table decoration: this is the traditional holly of the festive season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"product-section\" id=\"tips\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eVerdeia tips\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"verdeia-tips\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrune only in February–March:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRely on nearby pollination:\u003c\/strong\u003e 'Blue Maid' is female and only fruits after pollination. In the city, a male holly in a neighbouring garden is usually sufficient, as bees travel several dozen metres.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlace it within view from indoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"product-section\" id=\"caracteristiques\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tech-details\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eIlex × meserveae\u003c\/em\u003e 'Blue Maid'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blue holly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Aquifoliaceae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e American hybrid, parent species native to East Asia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize on delivery:\u003c\/strong\u003e H90 cm | Pot Ø19 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabit:\u003c\/strong\u003e trained on a standard, dense and compact crown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight at maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 to 2.50 metres in a pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e sun to partial shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e regular, with the substrate kept moist during the growing season\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil type:\u003c\/strong\u003e well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e down to -25 °C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth:\u003c\/strong\u003e slow, light pruning at the end of winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e evergreen, dark green spiny leaves with bluish hues on purple branches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruiting:\u003c\/strong\u003e bright red berries from November to March, on a pollinated female plant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e easy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eToxicity:\u003c\/strong\u003e toxic if ingested, with the berries of particular concern\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDecorative style:\u003c\/strong\u003e Classic \/ Natural \/ Winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"micro-tip\"\u003eEvery plant is unique: trunk height, crown density and berry abundance naturally vary according to age and pollination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Everspring","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57278111645961,"sku":"48997","price":56.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/1006\/5673\/files\/ilex-meserveae-blue-maid-sur-tige-houx-bleu-h90-cm-pot-oe19-cm-verdeia-4858455.jpg?v=1788893779","url":"https:\/\/verdeia.eu\/en\/products\/ilex-meserveae-blue-maid-standard","provider":"Verdeia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}