Ilex crenata Green Hedge - Japanese Holly

The Ilex crenata Green Hedge is a new variety of crenate holly that is easy to grow in soil that is not too chalky and is flexible. This evergreen shrub with small non-prickly leaves and a dense and compact habit is ideal for creating low hedges or hedges at eye level and has the advantage of growing faster than boxwood. It tolerates pruning very well, no matter how severe, and is wonderfully suited for topiary. The female plants produce beautiful black berries from September to March. Plant it in a sheltered spot away from the blazing sun, in soil that remains slightly moist but well-drained. Often used in Japanese gardens it allows you to try your hand at topiary!

Crenate holly is a shrub native to Japan, belonging to the family Aquifoliaceae. The 'Green Hedge' variety has slow growth during the establishment phase, which lasts 2 to 3 years, and then develops more rapidly, with annual growth reaching about 30cm (11.8in). This variety has a bushy, compact, and dense habit. The branches sometimes tend to grow horizontally, giving the unpruned shrub a low and wide silhouette. At maturity, when allowed to grow freely, it will reach a height of up to 1.80 m (5.9ft) and a spread of 1.40m (4.6ft). Its tiny, round, and leathery leaves are about 1cm (0.4in) long and are medium green, lighter when they first emerge, crenate but not prickly, and slightly glossy. All hollies are dioecious, meaning there are plants with male flowers and plants with female flowers. Only the female plants bear fruit. The female Green Hedge holly produces small, insignificant but nectar-producing white flowers in spring, which, after being pollinated by a nearby male holly, develop into round, fleshy, and shiny black berries. Recognizing the sex of the flowers requires a trained eye; they all have four white petals and a waxy surface, but the male flowers are recognizable by their four prominent yellow anthers, while the female flowers have a short, oval, green pistil. The same shrub can produce both male flowers and atrophied female flowers that cannot be pollinated. The seeds are dispersed by birds that love the fruits.

Faster growing than boxwood and easily shaped to suit individual preferences, Ilex crenata Green Hedge will satisfy gardeners who love well-maintained hedges, and plant sculptures. It is perfect in a hedge, whether monoculture or mixed, alongside Eleagnus, Laurustinus, or Mexican orange. It dislikes excessive sun and lime, which cause its beautiful foliage to yellow, and prefers well-drained, loose, deep, and fairly fertile soils. Hardy to well below -15°C (5°F), it likes partially shaded to shaded areas, such as under trees or on the edge of woodlands, in a large natural garden. When grown as a 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... This holly also performs very well in pots.

Hollies are both beloved and unfamiliar plants. The genus includes nearly 800 deciduous or evergreen species, generally native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. These very ancient plants have experienced the alternation of glacial periods and dry, hot periods in our climatic history, making them extremely adaptable and resistant plants. Their wood, white to cream, is very low in water, even when green. It is dense and heavy but soft and easy to work with in cabinetmaking. It is also an excellent fuel for heating, even when green. Finally, its foliage and berries (inedible) are rich in caffeine. Tea is made with its leaves in the Black Forest.