Ilex x meserveae Heckenfee - Blue Holly

Ilex x meservae 'Heckenfee' is a variety of holly with dark green foliage and an upright pyramidal habit. Of medium size, it is very useful for low-maintenance hedges, requiring almost no pruning. This female variety is covered with beautiful red decorative fruits later in the year. It is a plant that thrives in acidic to neutral soils, with a preference for moist conditions. Once these conditions are met, it is a shrub that requires very little maintenance and can grow well in both full sun and partial shade. Very hardy, its limited growth is well-suited for small gardens.

The genus Ilex is the only representative of the Aquifoliaceae family, but it includes several hundred species. Ilex x meservae is a hybrid obtained in the United States (Long Island, New York) in the 1950s by Kathleen Meserve, by crossing Ilex aquifolium and Ilex rugosa. Ilex aquifolium is the Common Holly that can be found in our forests up to 1500 m (4921 ft 4 in) altitude. Preferring the coolness of the undergrowth, this species can live for several hundred years and form a small tree easily recognizable by its dark green, leathery and spiny leaves, and its decorative red fruits on female plants. Ilex rugosa is a small shrub with narrow leaves, quite different from the previous one. Native to Japan and Sakhalin Island, it grows in full sun or partial shade and can withstand temperatures as low as -40°C! It has a spreading, sometimes prostrate habit, generally not exceeding 60 cm (23.6 in) in height.

Ilex x meservae 'Heckenfee' is the result of a cross between Ilex aquifolium 'Pyramidalis', which gave it its habit, and Ilex x meservae 'Blue Princess'. Outside of Europe, it is known as 'Castle Spire'. Meserve Hollies are commonly referred to as 'Blue Holly' among English gardeners. However, the dominant colour is green in this Holly, so other shrubs should be considered if a truly blue appearance is desired! The leaves of 'Heckenfee' are shiny and dark green on the upper surface and slightly paler on the lower surface, elliptical in shape, with small sharp spines along the leaf margin. It produces white flowers in spring, followed by decorative berries, provided it can be pollinated by a male plant. The most suitable pollinators are 'Heckenstar', 'Heckenpracht', and 'Blue Prince'.
With medium growth, this Heckenfee Holly grows from 30 to 50 cm (11.8 to 19.7 in) per year reaching a height of 2.50 to 3 m (8 ft 2 in to 9 ft 10 in) with a width of 1 m (3 ft 4 in) to 1.20 m and has an upright pyramidal habit.

This evergreen Holly with decorative foliage makes excellent low-maintenance hedging, requiring only light pruning to control the thickness of the hedge. It is also appreciated in borders, particularly in contemporary gardens, where its very architectural form complements modern architectural shapes. It can be used to create very clean lines in a garden by combining it with topiaries or graphic conifers, with the shapes and foliage colours replacing the need for flowers. Viburnum tinus is a good choice to accompany it in the formation of an evergreen hedge, as it is a beautiful shrub with abundant flowers and decorative fruits that tolerates pruning very well. Elaeagnus ebbingei Maryline, with its yellow-edged light green foliage, will brighten up the dark foliage of its companions. To add brightness in winter, the profusion of decorative yellow fruits of Pyracantha coccinea Saphyr Jaune will be ideal. And to complete the picture, the superb Photinia serratifolia Pink Crispy with its cream-coloured leaves sprinkled with green and its bright pink young shoots will happily coexist with this 'Heckenfee' Holly.