Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
With its variegated foliage and winter berries, Honey Maid Holly is a superb shrub for adding winter interest to the garden. Producing spiky, green leaves with yellow margins, the foliage of this holly really stands out. Honey Maid Holly is a female variety and if grown near a male, can display glossy bright red berries in winter and add even more impact. Botanically named Ilex x meserveae 'Honey Maid', this holly is a great all-rounder and perfect for the borders.
With dense and bushy growth, Honey Maid naturally develops a pleasing pyramidal shape, which will draw the eye. Come spring, it is adored by pollinators, which will enjoy its tiny white flowers that open around April. Being evergreen, this Honey Maid Holly can be used to form a year-round hedge or planted in a container to provide a focal point. A tough and hardy shrub that is suitable for zones 5 to 8.
Honey Maid Holly Care
Honey Maid Holly can cope with most soil types but is happiest when grown in a slightly acidic, moist, free-draining soil. This holly thrives in a sheltered spot in full sun but can tolerate some light shade as well. To get this shrub off to the best start, regular watering is required until it is established. After which, it should only need extra moisture during any hot and dry spells. If grown in a fertile soil, extra fertilizer is not strictly necessary; however to boost new growth, a balanced fertilizer can be applied in early spring.
Once established, the Honey Maid Holly requires little care. To encourage bushy growth and keep it to size, it can be pruned right after flowering. Being relatively compact, Honey Maid Holly is suitable for growing in a container; keep in mind more frequent watering will be necessary during the growing season.
Honey Maid Holly Spacing
Over time, this variegated holly can reach a size of 12-15 feet high by 6-8 feet wide. If growing this shrub to form a mixed hedge, a plant spacing of 4-5 feet is advisable.
Honey Maid Holly Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Full Sun (3+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 12-15 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 6-8 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Columnar, Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- Bloom Time
- Spring (Berries in Fall to Winter)
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green Variegated
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , 4 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Honey Maid Holly
- Botanical Name
- Ilex X meserveae 'Honey Maid'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
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