Delivery within 30 days

Nationwide, or your money back.

Large order discounts

When you buy 5+ meters

Planting available

Planting date within 60 days

Skip to product information
Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length
Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Instant Hedging

Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

£490.00
Select Instant Hedging Height

AT A GLANCE

Commonly chosen for its year-round colour and classic form, Blue Holly creates a strong, long-lasting privacy screen. Its glossy, blue-green evergreen leaves and bright winter berries (on female plants) deliver a smart, traditional look that suits both modern and period properties.

  • Evergreen
  • Full Sun
  • Partial Shade
FREE Delivery

Enjoy FREE mainland UK pallet delivery on all our instant hedging. Orders are typically dispatched and delivered within 30 working days of purchase. 

Your plants arrive securely wrapped on pallets, ensuring they stay protected and ready for planting. Deliveries are curbside only and require solid access for an 18-tonne lorry and pump truck.

For properties with restricted access or locations outside our standard delivery network, contact our team for tailored delivery advice and a personalised quote.


Read our Delivery Policy for full details.
Planting

We offer an optional professional planting service for customers who’d like our team to take care of the complete installation. Please note this is an add-on only service and must be purchased with our instant hedging.

 Our standard planting package starts at £1,500, which includes the planting of up to 18 instant hedging units (1 m each). To learn more about preparing for your planting day or to add our professional service to your order, visit our Professional Planting product page and visit our Terms of Service.

 If you’d rather plant your hedge yourself, we’ve created a DIY Planting Guide with step-by-step advice on site preparation, positioning the units, and helping your new hedge establish successfully.
Size & Handling

Each instant hedging unit is a mature, ready-grown hedge section designed to provide instant privacy and structure from the moment it’s planted. Supplied in convenient 100cm lengths, every section arrives pre-clipped, approximately 40cm deep, and grown to your chosen height for a finished, professional look straight away.

Your hedge will be delivered in strong cardboard troughs, measuring around 30–40cm wide and 35cm deep, with pre-cut lifting points for use with lifting hooks or or careful two-to-four-person handling.

These are substantial, field-grown hedge units, and proper handling is essential. Each section typically weighs between 100–200kg (and occasionally more), so please ensure suitable help or mechanical equipment is available to move and position your hedging safely and efficiently on site at the point of delivery.
Why Choose Instant Hedging

Each instant hedging module is made from 3–5 mature plants per linear metre, carefully grown together over several years to form a dense, seamless living screen. From the moment it’s planted, your hedge provides instant privacy, structure, and an established look that feels like it’s been part of your garden for years.

Unlike buying individual plants that need time to fill out, often leaving gaps and uneven growth, our instant hedging gives you a complete, uniform hedge straight away. There’s no need to measure planting distances, worry about spacing, or wait years for coverage.

Every section is professionally grown, pre-clipped, and evenly spaced, ensuring a consistent height and clean, finished face from day one. Simply choose your desired height and measure the metres you need. It’s that easy to transform your outdoor space with a ready-made, mature hedge.

SAVE 5%

WHEN YOU BUY 5+ METERS

SAVE 10%

WHEN YOU BUY 10+ METERS

SAVE 15%

WHEN YOU BUY 25+ METERS

SAVE 20%

WHEN YOU BUY 50+ METERS

SAVE 25%

WHEN YOU BUY 100+ METERS

Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Blue Holly is a brilliant option if you want an evergreen hedge that looks good in every season and brings winter interest. The dense, spined foliage forms a resilient screen, while clusters of red berries on female plants add colour when gardens need it most. Tough and adaptable, it performs well in sun or partial shade and handles exposed sites. If you’re after style, substance and true year-round presence, Blue Holly is hard to beat.
GROWTH & MAINTENANCE OF Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Blue Holly can reach 3–5+ m as a free-growing shrub, but for hedging we recommend a final working height of 1.5–3 m. At this size it stays dense, easy to trim, and practical to manage year after year.
You have flexibility depending on your design goals:
• Maintain at the supplied height with regular trims for a neat, uniform screen.
• Let it grow taller and broader where space allows — just plan for extra access and a little more trimming effort over time.
To keep foliage full from top to bottom, shape the hedge slightly wider at the base than the top so light reaches lower branches and prevents thinning near ground level.
Planting Position & Access

Blue Holly is adaptable and evergreen — thriving in full sun to partial shade and happy in urban or exposed sites. Plant in well-drained soil (neutral to slightly acidic is ideal) and avoid persistent waterlogging. Wherever possible, leave 0.5–1 m of working space so you can trim both faces and safely reach the top. Good access = easier long-term maintenance and a consistently tidy finish.
Berry note: Female plants need a male pollinator nearby for good berry set. If winter berries are important, ensure compatible sexes are planted within pollinating distance.
Spacing & Interaction with other plants

When planting Blue Holly consider how neighboring plants will influence the hedge over time:
• Positive: Under-planting with low, non-competitive groundcovers helps suppress weeds and stabilize moisture; organic mulch improves soil life.
• Negative: Large, thirsty trees or vigorous shrubs too close can compete for moisture and nutrients. Avoid severe root competition and soil compaction along the hedge line.
Give Blue Holly enough room above and below ground, and it will develop into a robust, long-lasting evergreen hedge with a smart, classic look.

Watering Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Watering is the single most important job when establishing blue holly hedging, an evergreen that transpires year-round and prefers consistent moisture without saturation. In production it’s watered little and often; in the garden it responds to slow, deep soaks that wet the whole root zone. Use the top few centimetres of soil as your cue—water when dry. Ensure free drainage so water never sits in the pit, particularly on clay; sandy sites and windy aspects may need more frequent sessions. Keep a clean mulch collar to hold moisture, and water at the base in the morning, avoiding late foliage wetting. For the first 12–24 months maintain steady moisture through the growing season and top up only in winter dry spells; once established, water mainly in prolonged drought.
Early establishment phase

In the first 12-24 months, during the warmer growing months maintain consistent moisture—check the top few cm and water as needed while avoiding soggy soil, mulch lightly, and shelter from hot wind, and in the dormant months water only in long dry spells; keep mulch and avoid saturated ground.
How to notice under-watering

In order to notice under watering, look out for dull, matte foliage, leaf curl and drop (especially older leaves), and sharp soil dryness around the root zone.
How to notice over-watering

In order to notice over watering, look out for inner leaves yellowing then dropping, limp stems, and a sour, constantly wet root zone.
3+ Years after planting

Once established (after 2–3 years), water in long spring–summer dry spells to keep steady moisture; avoid saturated soil and refresh mulch.

feeding Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

AT PLANTING

Incorporate a balanced slow-release fertiliser or root-stimulating granules into the planting area (following manufacturer instructions) so your hedge gets a strong start.

YEARLY FEEDS

Apply a general-purpose, slow-release fertiliser in early spring (March/April) so the hedge has nutrients as growth starts. In later spring you can consider a light feed if growth appears weak or colour is faded.

FOLLOW CAUTION

Avoid excessive high-nitrogen feeds in summer, you don’t want rampant, weak growth that flops. For hedges, steady, controlled growth is far better than fast, floppy shoots.

TRIMMING Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

How and when to trim

Prune in late spring after flowering to maintain shape while preserving future bloom potential. Use secateurs to thin crowded stems and lightly shorten new shoots. A gentle tidy in late summer can refine the outline. Avoid trimming during hard frost or very hot weather.
QUICK TIPS

Keep the profile slightly wider at the base for light penetration and ground-level density.
• Use small, regular trims to build thickness; holly responds well to steady shaping.
• Keep blades sharp for clean cuts through the spiny evergreen leaves.
• If berries matter, trim after winter once displays have finished to preserve flowering/fruiting wood.
HARD CUT BACK AND REDUCTION

Blue Holly tolerates renovation, but do it in stages over 1–3 seasons on a well-established hedge to ensure strong, even regrowth.
A closer look at Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Blue Holly, a hybrid developed in the mid-20th century by American horticulturist Kathleen Meserve, combines the glossy strength of traditional hollies with improved cold tolerance and vivid blue-green foliage. Since its introduction to the UK, it’s been appreciated for its neat, symmetrical growth and ornamental red berries, which bring seasonal colour to winter gardens. Its polished evergreen leaves, compact form, and resilience to shaping make it a sophisticated, low-maintenance choice for decorative or defensive hedging.
Plants that pair well with Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Blue Holly’s glossy, blue-green leaves bring depth and polish to winter planting schemes. It pairs beautifully with Topiary forms of Box or Taxus for formal entrances, and its red berries are complemented by nearby Skimmia japonica or Sarcococca confusa, which flower fragrantly through the colder months. For seasonal layering, add Hellebores or Snowdrops beneath to draw attention to its evergreen sheen. The subtle blue tone also enhances silver and grey companions like Pittosporum ‘Silver Queen’ or Eucalyptus gunnii, producing a refined and enduring winter composition that attracts birds and pollinators alike.
Latin name and origins of Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Botanically, Ilex × meserveae is a hybrid within the Ilex genus, which encompasses over 400 species of hollies worldwide. The “×” indicates hybrid origin—this plant is a cross between Ilex aquifolium (English Holly) and Ilex rugosa (Tsuru Holly) bred by Kathleen Meserve in the United States in the 1950s. The genus name Ilex was historically used for holm oak due to similar evergreen foliage, and it now represents a diverse group valued for glossy leaves and winter berries. The meserveae epithet honours its breeder, and the hybridisation gives this holly its characteristic blue-green tone, compact growth, and exceptional cold hardiness—traits that make it an ideal hedge or specimen in challenging climates.

Wildlife Friends of Blue Holly | Ilex Meserveae Heckenblau | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Blue Holly is a magnet for winter wildlife, its small white flowers attracting bees and hoverflies in spring, and its glossy red berries feeding blackbirds, thrushes, and robins through colder months. The dense evergreen structure gives crucial cover when other plants lie bare, offering roosting shelter for small birds. Its year-round presence makes it a vital evergreen anchor in any biodiverse garden, linking structure and sustenance seamlessly.
Tips for encouraging wildlife in your hedge

In the first 12-24 months, during the warmer growing months maintain consistent moisture—check the top few cm and water as needed while avoiding soggy soil, mulch lightly, and shelter from hot wind, and in the dormant months water only in long dry spells; keep mulch and avoid saturated ground.
Toxicity Notes

Blue Holly hedging plants contain mild to moderate toxicity due to saponins and methylxanthines found in the leaves and berries. Ingesting several berries can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea in humans and dogs, though serious poisoning is rare. Birds such as Turdus philomelos (song thrush) and Turdus iliacus (redwing) safely digest the berries and play an important role in seed dispersal. The sharp leaves may deter curious pets from chewing, reducing accidental ingestion. When sited sensibly, Blue Holly poses minimal risk and remains a wildlife-friendly, ornamental evergreen.
Foliage

The foliage on Blue Holly hedging plants is thick, evergreen, and subtly blue-green, with spines that deter predators and create exceptionally secure nesting pockets. This spiky architecture shelters Turdus philomelos (song thrush), Erithacus rubecula, and overwintering ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata), while the glossy leaves host scale insects and aphids that sustain lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea) and hoverfly larvae (Syrphidae). The evergreen canopy moderates temperature and wind at ground level, giving amphibians and Erinaceus europaeus calmer corridors beneath the hedge.
Fruits

The fruits on Blue Holly hedging plants are striking red drupes that ripen in late autumn and persist well into winter, providing vital nourishment when other resources are scarce. Each glossy berry contains several seeds, surrounded by bright flesh that attracts berry-feeding birds such as Turdus merula (blackbird), Turdus philomelos (song thrush), and Erithacus rubecula (robin). These birds, in turn, disperse the seeds across the landscape, aiding in natural regeneration. The berries also provide crucial energy reserves for migrating species like Turdus iliacus (redwing) and Turdus pilaris (fieldfare) as they pass through the British Isles. Fruiting is strongest on female plants pollinated by nearby males, and berry retention is longest in cool, sheltered sites.
Flowers

The flowers on Blue Holly hedging plants bloom in late spring, usually from May through June, forming clusters of small, white, star-shaped flowers that emit a delicate, sweet fragrance. These nectar-rich blossoms attract an impressive range of pollinators, including honeybees (Apis mellifera), early bumblebees (Bombus pratorum), and hoverflies such as Eristalis tenax. Hollies are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants—so a male such as ‘Blue Prince’ is needed nearby to pollinate a female like ‘Blue Princess’ for berry production. When successful, bright red berries form by autumn, feeding Turdus merula (blackbirds), Turdus philomelos (song thrushes), and Erithacus rubecula (robins). Flowering is most abundant in full sun to partial shade with consistently moist, fertile soil.

Discover more...