“While other female blue hollies (Ilex x meserveae) can get pretty big, the truly dwarf cultivar LittleOne maxes out at just three feet — making it the absolute perfect holly for front yards and…”
Syringa purpurea
LittleOne Blue Holly Fits Foundation Plantings
While other female blue hollies (Ilex x meserveae) can get pretty big, the truly dwarf cultivar LittleOne maxes out at just three feet — making it the absolute perfect holly for front yards and foundation plantings where you want year-round color without it taking over your windows. It's got this lovely rounded shape that fits right into formal settings, and it can produce vivid red berries too. Plus, the dark green foliage has a gorgeous sheen and toothed edges that add some real textural pizzazz.
Commonly called: LittleOne blue holly
Botanical name: Ilex x meserveae 'MonWilde'
Exposure: Full to part sun
In spring, you'll see small white flowers — nothing too flashy. Like all hollies, this shrub is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Only the female varieties produce berries, and even then they need a male holly nearby to make it happen. LittleOne is a female blue holly that can pump out tons of red berries, ripening in fall and hanging on right through winter. (Check out "How to grow it" below for the best male hollies to pair with LittleOne.)
This is an evergreen holly with shiny, dark green, toothed leaves — seriously so glossy.
LittleOne grows into this neat three-foot-round ball shape — like a little green globe.
Blue hollies, also called Meserve hollies, are hybrids of two species: Ilex aquifolium and Ilex rugosa. The very first ones were crossed by Kathleen Meserve back in the 1950s — what a legacy! LittleOne ('MonWilde') is a brand-new 2024 introduction from Monrovia.
Like most hollies, LittleOne blue holly loves rich, moist, well-drained acidic soil — but honestly, it can adapt to less-than-perfect conditions too. Just make sure it gets at least partial sun to keep that compact growth. The best part? Its naturally round shape and small size mean you basically never need to prune it. Gotta love a low-maintenance plant!
Since LittleOne is a female holly, you'll need a male pollenizer nearby if you want those berries. Great options include 'Blue Boy', Little Rascal ('Mondo'), and Castle Wall ('Heckenstar'). The rule of thumb is one male holly for every six females, and keep him within thirty feet. Hardy in Zones 5–9.
Image courtesy of Monrovia
