Ilex crenata 'Soft Touch'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks kre-NAH-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Soft touch Japanese holly is a cultivar of Japanese holly (Ilex crenata). Soft touch Japanese holly is a dense, mounded, evergreen shrub with a moderate growth rate.
Plant in the full sun in acidic, well-drained soil, though it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry, including clay. The shrub can be pruned to manage its size and is easy to transplant. It tolerates drought, shade, air pollution, poor soils, and clay soils. It may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9).
It will reach a relatively short height of 3 feet and has soft-textured leaves without the sharp spines typically found on Japanese holly. It works well planted in borders, as an accent, or along walkways. Black ornamental berries persist throughout winter for cool season interest.
Use ‘Soft Touch’ in winter, Asian, cottage or pollinator gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally pest-free. Potential insect pests include holly leaf miner, spider mites, whitefly, and scale. Potential diseases include leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot, and powdery mildew. Plants are also susceptible to leaf drop, leaf scorch and chlorosis (yellowing of leaves in high pH soils).
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:
- Backyard Patio
- 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:
- Showy fruits are attractive to birds. 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: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Black ornamental berries on pollinated female plants that are 1/4 inch in length. Fruits are hidden below the foliage. Persist throughout winter for cool season interest.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/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
- Smooth
- Soft
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- It has soft-textured, glossy green leaves that have an interesting silver mid-vein.
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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
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are green on current season growth, and turn gray-green to gray-brown by year 2 or 3. They are often densely pubescent on young stems. Dense and rigid at maturity.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
