Holly (Ilex × aquipernyi 'Meschick' DRAGON LADY)
Ilex × aquipernyi 'Meschick' DRAGON LADY is an upright, narrow evergreen Holly, perfect for screens, offering year-round color and striking red winter berries.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’ DRAGON LADY is a highly desirable, densely upright broadleaf evergreen, prized for its symmetrical, narrow pyramidal shape that fits beautifully into tight spaces where other shrubs may sprawl. This specific Holly cultivar provides excellent structure and deep green, spiny foliage that remains attractive throughout all four seasons. Its primary ornamental appeal, beyond the handsome foliage, is the production of brilliant scarlet fruits that mature in the fall and persist well into the winter landscape.
This hybrid is a workhorse evergreen suitable for hedging and screening, offering high performance in USDA Zones 6 through 8 when provided with acidic, moist, well-drained soil conditions. As a female Holly cultivar, achieving the best fruit display requires thoughtful placement near a compatible male pollinator. The DRAGON LADY offers a formal, columnar presence, making Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’ DRAGON LADY a functional and beautiful backbone plant for year-round garden interest.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Aquifoliaceae
- Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 6-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 10-20 ft
- Spread: 4-6 ft
- Bloom Time: May
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Plant Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’ DRAGON LADY in the spring or fall when temperatures are moderate, ensuring the location offers full sun to light shade. Success hinges on well-drained soil that is reliably acidic; check your soil pH and amend if necessary, as high pH soils can cause chlorosis (yellowing). Once established, maintain consistent moisture, especially during dry spells, as this Holly requires medium water intake to thrive.
Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant, ensuring it does not touch the trunk, to help conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds. While pruning is seldom required due to its natural upright habit, any shaping should be done in the winter months. Remember that DRAGON LADY is female; for vibrant red berries, incorporate a pollinator like I. ‘Blue Stallion’ or I. ‘Blue Prince’ nearby.
In hot summer climates, gardeners should prioritize planting the DRAGON LADY where it receives some protection from intense afternoon sun, as excessive heat can cause leaf scorch. When siting this Holly, remember its relatively narrow mature spread (4-6 ft), making it an ideal choice for tight screening purposes or formal lines where space is a constraint.
Landscape Uses
The exceptionally upright and narrow form of Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’ DRAGON LADY makes it an indispensable element for structured landscapes needing vertical interest without significant width. It excels when used en masse to form formal privacy hedges or screens, providing dense, unbroken evergreen coverage year-round. Its columnar structure also allows it to be situated near building foundations or pathways where a wide, bushy shrub would obstruct movement or views.
Consider using this Holly as a strong vertical accent against lighter-colored walls or fences to highlight its dark green foliage and subsequent winter berry display. When designing mixed borders, pair the DRAGON LADY Holly with plants that appreciate similar acidic soil and moisture levels, such as rhododendrons or azaleas, or contrast its upright form with low-growing groundcovers that bloom profusely in the spring.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Insignificant
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Ilex × aquipernyi is a cross between I. Aquifolium (English holly) and I. Pernyi (perny holly), borrowing desirable traits from both parents. The genus name, Ilex, originates from the Latin name Quercus ilex (holm oak) due to foliage similarities across the genera. The cultivar ‘Meschick’, sold as DRAGON LADY, exhibits an upright, symmetrical, very narrow pyramid shape, maturing to 10-20 feet tall while only spanning 4-6 feet wide, offering dense, attractive evergreen leaves year-round.
Tolerances
- Air Pollution
Potential Problems
This resilient Holly cultivar may occasionally face issues from common pests like scale insects, spider mites, and holly leaf miners, requiring diligent inspection during warm seasons. Fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, leaf spot, and tar spot can develop, particularly in humid or overcrowded conditions; ensuring good air circulation during planting is key to prevention. Plants are also sensitive to environmental stress; avoid poorly drained soils to prevent leaf rot, and protect them from mid-day sun in very hot regions to mitigate leaf scorch and chlorosis in alkaline soil conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Holly (Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’ DRAGON LADY) suitable for?
This particular Holly is reliably winter hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 8.
How large does Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’ DRAGON LADY grow?
When mature, this cultivar typically reaches a height between 10 and 20 feet, maintaining a notably narrow spread of only 4 to 6 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Holly need?
For optimal health and the best fruit production, Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’ DRAGON LADY prefers full sun, though it tolerates conditions ranging to part shade.
When does Holly bloom?
Flowering occurs in May, producing inconspicuous white blooms.
Conclusion
The Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’ DRAGON LADY provides unmatched vertical structure and reliable evergreen screening for the landscape, accented by its brilliant scarlet winter berries. This particular Holly is an excellent long-term investment for structure and color. Before planting, confirm your soil is acidic and ensure you have space for a compatible male pollinator if you wish to maximize the stunning fruit display of this DRAGON LADY.
Companion Planting
Choosing appropriate neighbors is vital for the long-term health of your Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’ DRAGON LADY. Look for plants that share a preference for acidic soil pH and consistently medium moisture levels. Excellent companions include various shade-tolerant shrubs like mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) or Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica). For lower layers, ferns that enjoy dappled light and acidic humus, such as Tassel Fern (Polystichum setiferum), create a lush green foundation that complements the texture of the Holly foliage.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is the best time to apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants, promoting vibrant spring growth. In the summer, monitor watering closely, especially if sited in full sun, ensuring the medium moisture requirement is consistently met without saturating the root zone. Winter preparation for the DRAGON LADY Holly primarily involves ensuring it is well-watered before the ground freezes hard, especially in Zone 6, as evergreen foliage transpires water even when dormant, preventing desiccation injury.
