Compact Japanese Holly Ilex crenata 'Compacta'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks kre-NAH-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Compact Japanese holly is a cultivar of Ilex crenata (box leaved holly). It is a low, compact, globose version of its parent plant known for its small black fruit, rich dark green foliage, and spreading habit. There are several plants marketed under this cultivar name. The best-known was introduced by Tingle Nursery and is male.
Compact Japanese holly, like its parent, is an evergreen shrub, but unlike its 10-foot-tall parent, it will grow to 6 feet high and wide making it a good choice for a tall ground cover that works well as a foundation plant, hedge, or in small groups in a shrub border. Compact Japanese holly is also good in formal gardens and, because it tolerates pruning, for topiary.
The compact Japanese holly likes full sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of poor, sandy soil but prefers clay. It is intolerant of alkaline soil and drought. It is easy to transplant, is urban tolerant, but has pest problems. It may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9). The species is dioecious (meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant, thus both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). It is pollinated by bees and is not self-fertile.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Can be susceptible to pest problems. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to yellow.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- crenata
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Nepal to Temperate East Asia, Japan and Korea
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The small fragrant flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Mildly resistant to damage by deer.
- Edibility:
- Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small, black fruit from late summer through fall. Male plants do not produce fruit, but are needed as pollinators.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small (1/4 inch), dull, greenish white fragrant flowers in spring that form in clusters of 1 to 3. Pistillate cyme, in leaf axils of current season's growth; staminate solitary in leaf axils of current season's growth.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, flat, obovate, and 3/4 of an inch long. They have a rich, lustrous dark green color with crenate-serrulate teeth.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, gray-brown or slightly greenish.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are purple during new growth and turn more grayish or brownish as they mature.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- English Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
