Soft Touch holly

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates.

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water during dry spells, especially for the first two growing seasons and in containers.

Soil

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil, preferably acidic, around pH 5.0-6.5. Poor drainage and alkaline soil commonly cause problems.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Small, inconspicuous white flowers in late spring to early summer.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, glossy, dark green leaves with finely scalloped edges and no sharp spines; held densely on flexible shoots.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.8 ft (0.54 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.9 ft (0.58 m)

4. After 3 years

   2 ft (0.62 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.3 ft (0.69 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Invasive in

the US

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the root flare at soil level; avoid low spots where water collects.
• Water deeply when the upper soil begins to dry rather than giving frequent light sprinkles.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it away from the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; use a fertilizer suitable for acid-loving shrubs.
• In cold, exposed gardens, shelter from drying winter winds and water before the ground freezes if autumn has been dry.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late winter or early spring before new growth, removing dead shoots and shortening uneven growth. If you want a clipped outline, trim lightly after the first spring flush and avoid hard clipping late in the growing season.

Late winter

Remove dead or damaged shoots and lightly shape established plants.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable, refresh mulch and feed lightly if needed.

Late spring

Check new growth for yellowing that may indicate alkaline soil or root trouble.

Early summer

Give hedges a light trim after the first flush of growth.

Summer

Water deeply during dry spells and check foliage for mites in hot, dry weather.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates and keep new plants watered; avoid late pruning.

Winter

Check exposed plants for wind scorch and container plants for dry compost.

• Plant as a low evergreen hedge beside paths, spacing plants for their mature width.
• Repeat rounded plants through a small courtyard to give the planting a steady outline through winter.
• Use as a low foundation shrub beneath windows where taller hollies would need frequent pruning.
• Combine with Japanese maples, ferns and shade-tolerant perennials in acidic woodland-edge planting.
• Grow in a large, well-drained container with an acidic potting mix for evergreen structure.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Formal, Topiary garden, Green on green, Winter interest and Small-space.

Plant it with: Japanese maple, Azalea, Camellia, Pieris, Hosta and Japanese painted fern.

Wildlife: The small flowers provide food for visiting insects, and dense foliage offers shelter. This female cultivar may produce small black berries if a compatible male Japanese holly flowers nearby; birds may eat them.

• Root rot: wet soil can cause wilting, browning and plant death. Improve drainage before planting, avoid overwatering and replace badly affected plants.
• Iron chlorosis: yellow leaves with greener veins often indicate alkaline soil. Test the soil; use chelated iron for temporary relief and address unsuitable soil or grow in a container.
• Spider mites: fine stippling and dull foliage can develop in hot, dry weather. Check leaf undersides, rinse foliage and use a labelled insecticidal soap if needed.
• Winter scorch: exposed foliage may brown in cold, drying winds. Provide shelter, mulch the roots and prevent drought before winter.

Leaves and especially berries are toxic if eaten by people, cats, dogs or horses. Ingestion usually causes digestive upset, including vomiting or diarrhoea; larger amounts can be more serious. Do not treat the berries as edible, and contact a veterinarian or poison service after significant ingestion.

Where it spreads. Japanese holly is listed as invasive in Virginia and has escaped cultivation elsewhere in the eastern United States. Soft Touch is not known for aggressive vegetative spread, but berries can produce seedlings; check local guidance before planting near natural areas.

• Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. japonica)

  Boxwood leaves occur in opposite pairs; Japanese holly leaves alternate along the stem and have finely scalloped edges.

• Dwarf yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)

  Dwarf yaupon can have a similar rounded habit, but its leaves are generally less glossy. Fruiting female yaupons carry red berries, while Japanese holly has black berries.

Ilex is the Latin name for holm oak, later applied to hollies, crenata refers to the scalloped leaf margins, and 'Soft Touch' describes the cultivar's soft-feeling foliage and flexible shoots.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a free-draining medium under humid conditions. Seed-grown plants will not reliably retain the cultivar's compact habit.

Accepted botanical name

Ilex crenata

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Assam, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, Japan, Korea, Kuril Is., Myanmar, Nepal and Sakhalin.

Measured

Soil pH 4.5 to 5.5. Average height 305 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.