This hybrid complex consists of hybrids of the cold-hardy I. rugosa with I. aquifolium or I. cornuta (I. aquipernyi 'Meschick' (Dragon Lady) is often lumped in with these because it was hybridized by Mrs. Kathleen Meserve (F. Leighton Meserve was her husband, thank you so much UConn for confusing the issue needlessly), but it is a cross of I. aquifolium and I. pernyi, as the name implies).
These are the only hollies with the traditional holly look that Sunset recommends for zone 37, even though I. opaca very clearly grows around here as well.
'Mesdob' (China Boy) and 'Mesog' (China Girl), the I. cornuta descendants, are said to be hardier and more heat-tolerant than the Blue line, but I consider the foliage noticeably uglier, similar to 'Nellie R. Stevens'.
Despite the traditional holly foliage effect, these hollies (or at least the Blue line) lack the spines of other hollies, so they will not snag clothing; the downside is that this leaves them highly sensitive to deer. I can corroborate the deer problem from personal experience. However, I should also point out that all of my hollies (if they haven't been munched) look far more attractive in winter than other hardy broadleaf evergreens such as daphnes, evergreen viburnums, and rhododendrons, all of which have leaves that droop horribly in winter while the holly leaves don't.
*breath* Okay, here we go...
'Blue Girl' is more open than 'Conapri' (Blue Princess). 'Conablu' (Blue Prince) is dense, compact, dome-shaped, and the most popular male of the group. 'Conapri' is broad and the most popular female of the group. 'Mesid' (Blue Maid) is pyramidal and may be the most vigorous female of the Blues. 'Mesan' (Blue Stallion) grows faster than 'Conablu' and has a long bloom period, making it a choice pollinator. 'Honey Maid' is variegated (yellow margins and splotches) and therefore will grow smaller than most others. 'Mesog' is rounded, dense, and upright; 'Mesdob' is the same but male and also (as per Missouri BG) fast-growing. 'Hachfee' (Castle Spire, sometimes AKA Heckenfee) is dense, compact, upright, and pyramidal; according to the patent filing, it grows faster than 'Conapri', with more upright branching when young and less pruning needed, and forms a dense hedge faster. 'Heckenstar' (Castle Wall) is a male making all of the same claims as 'Hachfee', plus better branching than competing Blue males when young. 'Rutzan' (Red Beauty) is a cross of I. × meserveae with I. pernyi that is very popular in local nurseries as of 2021 and has earned the PHS Gold Medal Award; the patent filing calls it dense, compact, conical, and needing minimal pruning to preserve its good shape. Its leaves appear to be spinier, but I have found no information yet on whether it is enough to deter the deer.
...Got all that?
Sources: Sunset, Stoecklein, UConn, UFL, Missouri BG, Rutgers, AHS.
Back to the previous page