Round-Leaf Japanese Holly Ilex crenata 'Latifolia'
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks kre-NAH-tuh
- Description
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Round-leaf Japanese holly is a handsome evergreen in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae).
Plant in the full sun to partial shade in acidic well-drained soil though it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry. It tolerates drought, shade, air pollution, poor soils, sandy and clay soils and is easy to transplant. It has a slow growth rate, is alkaline intolerant and may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9). This cultivar is male, although female plants may be sold erroneously under this name.
Round-leaf Japanese holly, as with most Ilex crenata cultivars, tolerates heavy pruning and can be grown as a shrub or as a small tree left to grow to its maximum height of 20 feet. Whether as a shrub or tree, its form is dense, upright, and rounded and can be used for topiary.
This cultivar is appropriate for a winter, Asian, English, or drought-tolerant garden.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to pests. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to turn 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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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- 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: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- 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 Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- This male cultivar does not produce fruits.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- 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:
- Flowers are a dull greenish-white and 3/8 inch in length. Inflorescence is pistallate, a cyme, 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
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Relatively large leaves are alternate, simple, obovate, and between 3/8 to 1 inch long. They are minutely toothed on the margins with 11 to 16 teeth. The underside is dotted with blackish pellucid glands. Some leaves are slightly convex while others are not.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Green
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, gray-brown or slightly greenish.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are green on current season of growth, turning gray-green to gray-brown by year 2 or 3. Young stems are often densely pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
