| Size | |
|---|---|
| Common Name | |
| Type | |
| Family | |
| Native? | |
| Zone | 5, 5b, 6, 7, 8, 8b |
| Height Range (ft.) | 3.00 to 4.00 |
| Spread (ft.) | 4.00 to 6.00 |
| Bloom Time | |
| Bloom Description | flowers, inconspicuous, Small, White |
| Sun | |
| Water | |
| Maintenance | |
| Suggested Use | Border, Formal gardens, foundation plantings, Hedge, mass planting |
| Tolerate | |
| Growth Rate | |
| Attracts |
Ilex crenata Compacta is a compact, evergreen shrub with fine-textured foliage and a mounded form, perfect for hedges, borders, and year-round structure.
$32.99 – $108.99
Please note: Sizes 1.5 Gallon and up can’t be shipped outside the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens.
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| Size | |
|---|---|
| Common Name | |
| Type | |
| Family | |
| Native? | |
| Zone | 5, 5b, 6, 7, 8, 8b |
| Height Range (ft.) | 3.00 to 4.00 |
| Spread (ft.) | 4.00 to 6.00 |
| Bloom Time | |
| Bloom Description | flowers, inconspicuous, Small, White |
| Sun | |
| Water | |
| Maintenance | |
| Suggested Use | Border, Formal gardens, foundation plantings, Hedge, mass planting |
| Tolerate | |
| Growth Rate | |
| Attracts |
Ilex crenata Compacta, commonly known as Spreading Japanese Holly, is a dense, mounding evergreen shrub valued for its small, boxwood-like leaves and versatile landscape use. Typically reaching 3 to 4 feet in height with a wider spread, it features fine-textured, dark green foliage that stays attractive year-round. Unlike traditional hollies, it has no spines and develops small black berries in late fall if pollinated. This cultivar is excellent for hedges, low borders, foundation plantings, and formal garden designs, especially where boxwood alternatives are needed.
Evergreen structure: Dense, tidy form provides year-round greenery
Boxwood look-alike: Similar appearance with better deer resistance
Versatile design use: Ideal for edging, hedging, and formal planting
Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil needs: Prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Minimal—can be pruned for shape or left to grow naturally
Foundation planting: Softens building edges with evergreen texture
Low hedge or border: Maintains shape well with or without pruning
Formal gardens: A great fit for structured plantings and clipped forms
Wildlife habitat: Provides cover for small birds and insects
Pollinator support: Small white flowers attract pollinators in spring
Deer-resistant: Foliage is generally not favored by deer
Looking for a native option? Here are three native plants that offer similar seasonal interest and landscape value:
Picea pungens Globosa – Spruce
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Compacta Japanese Holly thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. It tolerates clay, loam, and sandy soils, as well as light pruning and shaping, making it ideal for both formal and naturalistic plantings.
This variety forms a dense, spreading evergreen shrub that typically grows 3–4 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide. Its naturally rounded habit makes it a good choice for foundation plantings, low hedges, borders, or mass plantings.
Compacta features small, oval, glossy green leaves that resemble boxwood but are softer and spineless. It maintains its color year-round and provides a neat, clean appearance with little effort.
Compacta is moderately deer-resistant. While not as deer-proof as some other evergreens, its dense, fine foliage is generally not a preferred food source, especially once the plant matures.
Yes—but only female plants produce berries, and only if a male Ilex crenata is nearby for pollination. The small, black berries are ornamental and bird-friendly, though less showy than those of other holly species.
Our gift cards make it easy to share the beauty of plants, flowers, and all things green. Whether for a special occasion or just because, give the gift of choice and let them select their favorites to create a garden they’ll cherish.
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