Ilex x meserveae: Country Or Region Of Origin
United States
Plant Profile: Ilex x meserveae
Names
Meserveae Holly, Meserve Hybrid Hollies
Phonetic Spelling:EYE-leks MESS-erv-ay
Genus:Ilex
Species:
Family:Aquifoliaceae
Meserveae Holly is a hybrid evergreen shrub that can reach heights of up to 6 feet 6 inches. Its leaves closely resemble those of Ilex Xxaquipernyi, yet they feature more flexible, rubbery spines and lack the convex shape. Additionally, the purplish branches of Meserveae Holly help differentiate it from its counterpart. This shrub thrives more effectively in northern regions compared to southern ones, demonstrating a strong tolerance for cold weather and exhibiting rapid growth.
Identification Tips:
Ilex x meserveae Feature Summary
Ilex x meserveae Image Gallery
Tags
#white
#evergreen
#white flowers
#green
#red berries
#wildlife plant
#nectar plant
#winter interest
#berries
#specialized bees
#fast growing
#deer resistant
#blue-green leaves
#northern climate
#cold tolerant
#pollinator plant
#fantz
#bird friendly
#bee friendly
Similar Plants
Ilex x meserveae is often confused with:
Ilex x meserveae Feature Summary
Attributes
United States
Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
Woody
Stem Cutting
Wildlife Food Source
Fruit
Red globose berries that often persist into winter.
Berry
Drupe
Red/Burgundy
Long-lasting
Fall
Winter
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
Small, white flowers that are white to pink-white in color.
White
Spring
< 1 inch
Leaves
Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate, acute, cuneate, coriaceous, and dark green to blue green in color. They are spinose with 4-8 ascending spines per margin. Grow between 1" -2 1/2" long. Leaves have a leathery feel to them.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
1-3 inches
Prickly
Glossy
Smooth
Leathery
Waxy
Long-lasting
1-3 inches
Stem
Stems are stout and reddish-purple in color. Stems have a triangular, stipular scar.
Red/Burgundy
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Broadleaf Evergreen
Erect
Pyramidal
Dense
Medium
Medium
Spines
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
3a
3b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Border
Hedge
Mass Planting
Accent
Screen/Privacy
Small groups
Specimen
Barrier
Lawn
Slope/Bank
Coastal
Pollinators
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Ilex x meserveae Image Gallery
Ilex x meserveae Attributes
Ilex x meserveae: Wildlife Value
Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
Ilex x meserveae: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Deer damage
Ilex x meserveae: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Ilex x meserveae: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Ilex x meserveae: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Ilex x meserveae Fruit
Ilex x meserveae: Fruit Description
Red globose berries that often persist into winter.
Ilex x meserveae: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Ilex x meserveae: Fruit Color
Red/Burgundy
Ilex x meserveae: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Ilex x meserveae: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Ilex x meserveae: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Ilex x meserveae: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Ilex x meserveae Flowers
Ilex x meserveae: Flower Description
Small, white flowers that are white to pink-white in color.
Ilex x meserveae: Flower Color
White
Ilex x meserveae: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Ilex x meserveae: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Ilex x meserveae Leaves
Ilex x meserveae: Leaf Description
Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate, acute, cuneate, coriaceous, and dark green to blue green in color. They are spinose with 4-8 ascending spines per margin. Grow between 1" -2 1/2" long. Leaves have a leathery feel to them.
Ilex x meserveae: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ilex x meserveae: Leaf Color
Green
Ilex x meserveae: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Ilex x meserveae: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Ilex x meserveae: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Ilex x meserveae: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Ilex x meserveae: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Ilex x meserveae: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Ilex x meserveae: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Ilex x meserveae: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Ilex x meserveae Stem
Ilex x meserveae: Stem Description
Stems are stout and reddish-purple in color. Stems have a triangular, stipular scar.
Ilex x meserveae: Stem Color
Red/Burgundy
Ilex x meserveae: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Ilex x meserveae Whole Plant Traits
Ilex x meserveae: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Ilex x meserveae: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ilex x meserveae: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Ilex x meserveae: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Ilex x meserveae: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Ilex x meserveae: Appendage
Prickles
Spines
Tendrils
Thorns
Ilex x meserveae Cultural Conditions
Ilex x meserveae: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Ilex x meserveae: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Ilex x meserveae: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Ilex x meserveae: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Ilex x meserveae: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Ilex x meserveae: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
Ilex x meserveae: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Ilex x meserveae Landscape
Ilex x meserveae: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Ilex x meserveae: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Ilex x meserveae: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Ilex x meserveae: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Ilex x meserveae: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
