Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00000761
11/12/99
Ilex crenata--Japanese Holly
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
Height: 8 ft Spread: 8 ft Form: rounded
Type: broad-leaved evergreen shrub
Annual Growth Rate: less than 12 inches
Comments: These dense, evergreen shrubs (Vis. 4) vary in
size depending on cultivar. In northern regions, the
foliage (Vis. 5) can be injured by cold temperatures,
however, some cultivars offer improved cold tolerance. The
leaves are rather small and often shiny. Like many other
broad-leaved evergreen shrubs, it prefers acid soils and
will develop iron deficiency if the pH is too high.
Japanese holly can be grown in sun or shade but winter
injury in northern climates will be more severe on plants
grown in the sun. The plant produces blue fruits but these
are not ornamental and largely hidden by the leaves.
Cultivars:
'Beehive' - A compact, flattened globe, with tiny
leaves (Vis. 1).
'Bennett's Compacta' - A compact plant with a semi-
upright habit reaching a height of 4 feet.
'Compacta' - A slow grower that reaches a height and
spread of 4 to 5 feet.
'Convexa' - A dense and hardy cultivar that can be much
wider than it is tall.
'Dwarf Pagoda' - A miniature, rounded shrub with tiny
leaves.
'Glass' - A large, 12-foot tall cultivar suitable for
use in hedges.
'Glory' - A dense, compact, globe-shaped plant.
'Green Island' - This cultivar will be 5 feet tall and
nearly 10 feet wide.
'Green Lustre' ('Green Luster') - A 2- to 3 foot tall
tree with glossy leaves (Vis. 2).
'Helleri' - A very dwarf type that forms a slow-growing
mound 2 to 3 feet tall.
'Hetzii' - A five-foot tall plant with dark green
glossy leaves. Wider than it is tall.
'Highlander' - An open, pyramidal plant reaching a
height of about 8 feet.
'Jersey Pinnacle' - A fast-growing, (Vis. 3) upright
cultivar.
'Mariesii' - An upright plant.
'Northern Beauty' - A dense, twiggy plant reaching a
height and spread of about 4 feet.
'Stokes' - A dense, slow-growing mound with tiny
foliage.
'Twiggy' - A National Arboretum selection that is slow-
growing and forms a compact pyramid.
References for Cultivars: Ray Wiegand's Nursery 1994,
Weston Nurseries 1999, Lake County Nursery 1999, Princeton
Nurseries 1999, Spring Meadow Nursery 1999, Northern
Beauty 1997, Berryhill Nurseries 1999, Gee Farms 1999,
Willoway Nurseries 1999.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
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