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Ilex crenata Dark Green - Japanese Holly

Ilex crenata Dark Green
Japanese Holly, Box-leaved Holly, Box-leaved Ilex, Dwarf Holly

4,3/5
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Order spotless, Very beautiful young plant with a top-notch delivery Thank you

Sylvain, 02/01/2024

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

This Japanese holly is a compact and dense shrub, with its evergreen foliage of dark green and glossy leaves reminiscent of boxwood. Completely hardy, it tolerates pruning, no matter how severe. The female plants produce attractive black berries from September to March. It dislikes scorching sun and limestone soil, and requires a neutral to slightly acidic soil, moist but well-drained soil. It is an excellent choice when replacing diseased and attacked boxwood due to the box tree moth.
Flower size
5 mm
Height at maturity
2.50 m
Spread at maturity
1 m
Exposure
Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -18°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March to April, October to November
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

Ilex crenata Dark Green is a variety of Japanese holly that can be used in the garden as a boxwood substitute. This evergreen, non-prickly shrub has small, glossy dark green leaves and can be shaped into any desired form. It also has the advantage of being resistant to diseases. The female plants produce beautiful black berries from September to March. Whilst it is very hardy and grows faster than boxwood, it still requires a limestone-free, moist soil and a sheltered position away from the scorching sun to thrive. Often used in Japanese gardens, it is perfect for topiary and cloud pruning, known as Niwaki. It is also a great alternative to diseased boxwoods attacked by the box tree moth.

 

The crenate holly is a shrub native to Japan, belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family. The 'Dark Green' variety reaches a height of 2.5 to 3m and a spread of 1 to 1.25m, with a fairly fast growth rate. It is also characterized by its small, tough, very dark green, crenated, non-prickly and glossy leaves. All hollies are dioecious plants, meaning there are male and female flowers on separate plants. Only the female plants bear fruits, which are highly valued for their ornamental value.

The female Dark Green Japanese holly produces small, inconspicuous but nectar-rich flowers in spring, which are a matte white colour. After being pollinated by a nearby male holly, these flowers will form fleshy, round, shiny black berries. Distinguishing the sex of the flowers requires a trained eye; they all have four white petals and a waxy surface, but male flowers can be recognized by their four prominent yellow anthers, while female flowers have a short, green, oval pistil. The same shrub can produce both male and ineffective female flowers, which cannot be pollinated. The seeds are dispersed by birds that love the fruits.

 

Growing faster than boxwood and easily shaped according taste, Ilex crenata Dark Green will please gardeners who enjoy well-maintained hedges and plant sculptures. It is perfect for low hedges, alongside Laurel, Coroneaster, or Mexican Orange. It primarily dislikes limestone soil, which causes its beautiful foliage to turn yellow, and prefers well-draining, fertile soils.  Hardy well below -15°C, it thrives in partially shaded to shaded areas, such as under trees, at the edge of woodlands or in a large natural garden. When planted as a solitary specimen, shaped into topiary, or trained as a small tree, it becomes a focal point in winter. It can also be used in large containers. Plant it in Zen gardens alongside bamboo, Japanese maples, camellias...

Ilex crenata Dark Green - Japanese Holly in pictures

Ilex crenata Dark Green - Japanese Holly (Flowering) Flowering
Ilex crenata Dark Green - Japanese Holly (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 2.50 m
Spread at maturity 1 m
Habit upright, columnar
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour insignificant
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Panicle
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Fruit colour black

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour dark green

Botanical data

Genus

Ilex

Species

crenata

Cultivar

Dark Green

Family

Aquifoliaceae

Other common names

Japanese Holly, Box-leaved Holly, Box-leaved Ilex, Dwarf Holly

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference8315611

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Planting and care

To plant the holly bush, use a generous amount of compost and incorporate it into the soil of your garden, in order to slightly acidify the soil while enriching it. If your soil is rich in limestone, the holly bush will tend to develop chlorosis (the foliage gradually turns yellow around the leaf veins). Choose a semi-shaded or shaded location in a warm climate. Water (with non-calcareous water) for the first 3 years, especially in summer in case of prolonged drought, to help the plant establish itself. It will then manage on its own, as it tolerates drought quite well. In the first few years, prune in spring, selecting the branches you want to keep. Step back to view your holly bush in order to determine the shape and arrangement of the short stems. The ilex can be attacked by holly leaf miners, white scale insects in spring, and mites and aphids in summer. Optionally, apply a preventive treatment at the beginning of the season. Ilex crenata has a preference for climates that combine cold winters and mild summers.

1
€7.50 Bag

Planting period

Best planting time March to April, October to November
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Edge of border, Hedge
Hardiness Hardy down to -18°C (USDA zone 7a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, well draining, fairly humus-rich

Care

Pruning instructions Prune specimen shrubs or those grown in a container. Prune the shrub either once in early summer or twice a year in May and September. Pruning twice allows for better control of the silhouette of your holly bush.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time May to June, September
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
4,3/5
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