Hedge Box™ Japanese Holly (Ilex)
Shrub
- Columnar habit is fast-growing, fills out hedges quickly!
- Evergreen, foliage stays a vibrant green all winter.
- Heat-tolerant, salt-tolerant, & overall adaptable to a wide range of landscapes.
- An excellent narrow boxwood alternative.
- Zones 5-9, full sun/part sun, up to 4-7′ tall x 2-3′ wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Japanese holly is a compact evergreen shrub that is versatile in the landscape year-round. Many varieties come in a naturally neat habit that requires no pruning to maintain its unique shape. Its ease of maintenance and gorgeous green foliage make holly ideal for foundation plantings or hedges.
Details
Patent: PPAF
Common name: Japanese holly
Zone: 5-9
Sun exposure: Full sun (6+ Hours) to part shade (4-6 Hours)
Height x width: 4-7' tall, 2-3' wide
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Year-round
Bloom time: Late spring
Features: Proven Winners, heat tolerant, evergreen, low-maintenance, winter interest, privacy & screening, salt-tolerant
Uses: Specimen, containers, narrow hedge, formal gardens, topiary
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (6+ hrs/day) to part shade (4-6 hrs/day).
Water: Average to abundant (as long as soil is well-drained).
Spacing: Min 2-3' apart, depending on landscape role.
Fertilizing: If desired, fertilize in early spring, once the ground has thawed, with a granular rose fertilizer. A second application may be made in late spring/early summer as well. If growing in a container with annuals that you'll be fertilizing regularly, you can skip the spring application.
Winterizing: 2-3" of shredded bark mulch is important to protect the shallow roots and minimize water loss. Do not allow plants to enter winter "thirsty" - dry soil during cold, windy weather is the main cause of leaf browning or even the plant dying.
Maintenance & pruning: Pruning is seldom needed, may be shaped in late winter. Chlorosis may occur on alkaline soils. Super dwarf habit all but eliminates the need to prune. Grows in shade, but color and form are best with some sun.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.