Japanese Holly Ilex crenata 'Stokes'
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Japanese Holly:
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks kre-NAH-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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.
- 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.
- 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.
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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
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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:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Male variety that does not produce fruit.
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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.
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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.
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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:
- 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.
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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
