Ilex crenata Dark Green - Japanese Holly

Ilex crenata Dark Green is a variety of Japanese holly that can be used in the garden as a boxwood substitute. This evergreen, non-prickly shrub has small, glossy dark green leaves and can be shaped into any desired form. It also has the advantage of being resistant to diseases. The female plants produce beautiful black berries from September to March. Whilst it is very hardy and grows faster than boxwood, it still requires a limestone-free, moist soil and a sheltered position away from the scorching sun to thrive. Often used in Japanese gardens, it is perfect for topiary and cloud pruning, known as Niwaki. It is also a great alternative to diseased boxwoods attacked by the box tree moth.

The crenate holly is a shrub native to Japan, belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family. The 'Dark Green' variety reaches a height of 2.5 to 3m (8 ft 2 in to 9 ft 10 in) and a spread of 1 to 1.25m (3 ft 4 in to 4 ft 1 in), with a fairly fast growth rate. It is also characterized by its small, tough, very dark green, crenated, non-prickly and glossy leaves. All hollies are dioecious plants, meaning there are male and female flowers on separate plants. Only the female plants bear fruits, which are highly valued for their ornamental value.

The female Dark Green Japanese holly produces small, inconspicuous but nectar-rich flowers in spring, which are a matte white colour. After being pollinated by a nearby male holly, these flowers will form fleshy, round, shiny black berries. Distinguishing the sex of the flowers requires a trained eye; they all have four white petals and a waxy surface, but male flowers can be recognized by their four prominent yellow anthers, while female flowers have a short, green, oval pistil. The same shrub can produce both male and ineffective female flowers, which cannot be pollinated. The seeds are dispersed by birds that love the fruits.

Growing faster than boxwood and easily shaped according taste, Ilex crenata Dark Green will please gardeners who enjoy well-maintained hedges and plant sculptures. It is perfect for low hedges, alongside Laurel, Coroneaster, or Mexican Orange. It primarily dislikes limestone soil, which causes its beautiful foliage to turn yellow, and prefers well-draining, fertile soils.  Hardy well below -15°C, it thrives in partially shaded to shaded areas, such as under trees, at the edge of woodlands or in a large natural garden. When planted as a solitary specimen, shaped into topiary, or trained as a small tree, it becomes a focal point in winter. It can also be used in large containers. Plant it in Zen gardens alongside bamboo, Japanese maples, camellias...