Honey Maid Meserve Holly

Honey Maid Meserve Holly (Ilex x meserveae 'Honey Maid')

Honey Maid Meserve Holly is an evergreen, variegated holly with glossy green leaves edged in yellow and a naturally dense, pyramidal habit. A female selection, it bears bright red berries in winter when a compatible male holly blooms nearby, delivering strong four-season interest.

Distinctive Features

Showy, spiny foliage with creamy yellow margins stands out year round, and tiny white spring flowers support pollinators before fruit set with a pollenizer. Bushy, formal structure suits borders, foundations, and containers.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade; best density and fruiting with at least half day sun.
• Soil: Moist, well drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil; avoid waterlogged sites.
• Water: Moderate; keep evenly moist during establishment, then deep water during extended dry spells.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8.
• Mature Size: Typically 6 to 10 ft tall and 4 to 6 ft wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Variegated foliage and winter berries draw the eye in all seasons.
• Hedges and Screens: Dense branching clips cleanly for a refined evergreen barrier.
• Foundation Planting: Pyramidal form frames entries and corners.
• Containers: Evergreen color and structure for year round patio display.
• Wildlife Gardens: With a male nearby, berries provide winter food for birds.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water regularly the first season; provide deep, occasional soaks in summer drought.
• Pruning: Shape in late winter or after spring flush to maintain lines and density.
• Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with an acid-forming, slow-release fertilizer if soil tests indicate need.
• Mulching: Maintain a 2 inch mulch ring to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch off stems.
• Notes: Female cultivar; plant a compatible male Meserve holly nearby for reliable berry set and site away from drying winter winds.

Why Choose Honey Maid Meserve Holly?

• Variegated Impact: Cream-edged leaves provide color beyond bloom and fruit.
• Four-Season Structure: Evergreen, pyramidal habit holds a crisp line year round.
• Space Efficient: Narrow footprint fits borders and foundations.
• Wildlife Value: Red berries feed birds with a pollenizer present.
• Versatile: Effective as specimen, hedge, or container accent.

Plant in sun to part shade with well drained, slightly acidic soil, pair with a compatible male holly for berries, and prune lightly to preserve the clean, pyramidal outline.