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Ilex crenata 'Stokes'

Phonetic Spelling
EYE-leks kre-NAH-tuh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Stokes Japanese holly is a male cultivar of Ilex crenata, Japanese holly, a native of Japan and east Asia found in thickets, woods and wet places in lowland and mountains all over Japan. Stokes Japanese holly is an evergreen, slow-growing, compact shrub that, unlike its parent, grows to a smaller 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. The small glossy dark green leaves on the compact, rounded shrub resemble boxwoods, but the leaves are alternate rather than opposite in arrangement. Stokes Japanese holly is tolerant of deer, heat and humidity, pollution, rabbits, drought and salt.

Plant in full sun or partial shade in moist, acidic, well-drained average soil though it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry, including clay. The plant is adaptable to pruning and can be used in topiary, or as a specimen, foundation planting or in borders. The slow growth rate lends it to container growing. It tolerates drought, shade, air pollution, poor soils, and clay soils and is easy to transplant. It may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9). It also tends to be less cold hardy than Ilex crenata 'Helleri', another dwarf Japanese holly. 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 fruits are desired). Stokes Japanese holly is a male plant and does not produce fruits.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant 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.

More information on Ilex crenata.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#slopes#rabbit resistant#topiary#deer resistant#border planting#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#slopes#rabbit resistant#topiary#deer resistant#border planting#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly
  • 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):
    Deer
    Edibility:
    Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Mounding
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    Male variety that does not produce fruit.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Insignificant
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Non-showy, 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.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Smooth
    Waxy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate and simple and are shaped elliptic or ovate to oblong-lanceolate. Dark green leaves that are 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches long and are crowded on stems. Their dark green color provides winter interest.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Green
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Smooth, gray-brown or slightly greenish.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Lawn
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Pollution
    Salt
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Minor toxicity. Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or other illness in humans.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Saponins
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Leaves