Family: Holly
Type: Shrub
Other Common Name: Box-leaved Holly
Soft Touch Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’) is a compact, evergreen shrub known for its soft, dense, dark green foliage. Unlike traditional holly with prickly leaves, this variety offers a smooth texture, making it a safer choice for gardens where children and pets play. Its small, rounded form and slow growth rate make it an ideal plant for low hedges, foundation plantings, or container gardens.
This versatile shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to a variety of soil types, although it prefers well-drained, acidic soils. Its resistance to pests and diseases, along with its drought tolerance once established, makes Soft Touch Japanese Holly a low-maintenance option for busy gardeners. It’s perfect for adding structure and year-round interest to the landscape without the hassle of constant care.
Soft Touch Japanese Holly produces small, inconspicuous white flowers in spring, followed by black berries in the fall, providing subtle seasonal interest. Its compact nature allows it to fit into tight spaces, offering greenery and texture where larger plants might overwhelm. Whether used in mass plantings, as an accent, or in formal gardens, Soft Touch Japanese Holly brings elegance and beauty to any setting.
Hardiness Zone: 5b-9b
Pet Friendly: Yes
Moisture Preference: Moist to wet
Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
Growth Rate: Medium
Average Height (feet): 3
Average Spread (feet): 3
Average Life Span (years): 50
Form: Round
Flower Color: White
Bloom Season: From Late Spring To Early Summer
Foliage Color: Green
Foliage Shape: Oval
Bark Texture: Smooth
Incorporating Soft Touch Japanese Holly into your yard can create a polished and sophisticated look. Its uniform growth habit and evergreen foliage serve as an excellent backdrop for flowering plants, adding depth and contrast to garden beds and borders. Planting it along walkways or driveways creates a neat, defined edge that enhances curb appeal year-round.
This holly variety pairs beautifully with both evergreen and deciduous shrubs, as well as perennials, offering a harmonious blend of textures and colors. Its dark green leaves highlight the bright hues of annual flowers, making them stand out even more. For a dynamic and visually appealing landscape, consider combining Soft Touch Japanese Holly with plants that have silver or variegated foliage.
Soft Touch Japanese Holly is also an excellent choice for container gardening. Its slow growth and manageable size make it suitable for pots, where it can live happily for years with proper care. Containers of Soft Touch Japanese Holly can flank entryways, patios, or decks, providing a structured yet inviting atmosphere.
In a formal garden, Soft Touch Japanese Holly's neat appearance and easy-to-maintain shape fit perfectly. It can be used for low hedges or as part of geometric garden designs, contributing to the garden's overall symmetry and order.
Soft Touch Japanese Holly complements the serene and natural aesthetic of Japanese gardens. Its smooth foliage and compact form echo the tranquility and minimalist beauty characteristic of this garden style.
For urban gardens, where space is at a premium, Soft Touch Japanese Holly offers greenery and structure without requiring a large footprint. It's ideal for creating privacy or green borders in small city yards.
Plant Soft Touch Japanese Holly as a foundation planting to soften the transition between your home and the garden. Its compact size prevents it from obscuring windows, while its dense foliage provides a lush, green base for your home’s facade.
Use Soft Touch Japanese Holly to create a low-maintenance, evergreen ground cover in shaded areas where grass might struggle to grow. Its tolerance for partial shade and slow growth rate make it an excellent choice for covering bare spots under trees.
Design a sensory garden with Soft Touch Japanese Holly as a tactile element. Its soft leaves provide a unique, touch-friendly experience, contrasting with the rough textures of bark or the smooth surfaces of decorative stones.
Select our pre-made garden layouts to create a landscape that’s uniquely yours. Simple, smart, and customizable!
In spring, Soft Touch Japanese Holly's new growth emerges, brightening the landscape with fresh, vibrant green leaves. This season may also see the plant producing its subtle white flowers, adding to its springtime appeal.
Throughout the summer, Soft Touch Japanese Holly maintains its rich, green appearance, providing a steady backdrop for the more ephemeral blooms of summer flowers. Its dense foliage offers a cool, calming presence in the garden.
In fall, Soft Touch Japanese Holly continues to hold its color, even as deciduous plants begin to fade. The appearance of black berries adds a new dimension of interest, attracting birds to the garden.
Winter highlights the strength of Soft Touch Japanese Holly, as its evergreen leaves remain vibrant against the stark landscape. It stands as a testament to the enduring beauty of the garden, even in the coldest months.
Soft Touch Japanese Holly should be planted in a location that receives full to partial sun. It’s versatile enough to thrive in various garden spots but does best with a bit of sunlight to encourage dense foliage growth.
This holly variety prefers full sun to partial shade. It can adapt to less light, but for optimal leaf color and growth, aim to provide it with at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.
Well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal for Soft Touch Japanese Holly. It's quite adaptable but will benefit from organic matter mixed into the planting hole.
Space plants approximately 2-3 feet apart to allow for their mature spread. This ensures each plant has enough room to grow without overcrowding, promoting better health and appearance.
The best time to plant Soft Touch Japanese Holly is in the spring or fall. Cooler temperatures during these seasons help the plants to establish without the stress of extreme heat.
Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. Place the shrub in the hole, fill it with soil, and water thoroughly. Adding a layer of mulch can help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
Regular watering is crucial during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Once established, Soft Touch Japanese Holly is relatively drought-tolerant but benefits from occasional watering during prolonged dry periods.
Feed Soft Touch Japanese Holly with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to support healthy growth and dense foliage. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can harm the plant.
Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth. Soft Touch Japanese Holly responds well to pruning, but it’s often unnecessary due to its naturally compact form.
Apply fertilizer as new growth begins and mulch to conserve moisture. Pruning should be done before new growth starts to shape the plant and remove any dead or damaged branches.
Monitor soil moisture and water during dry spells. Summer is a good time to check for pests or diseases and treat as necessary to keep the plant healthy.
Prepare for winter by applying a fresh layer of mulch around the base of the plant to protect the roots from freezing temperatures and reduce water loss.
Soft Touch Japanese Holly requires little winter care once established. Ensure the plant is well-watered before the ground freezes to reduce stress during cold months.
Soft Touch Japanese Holly may produce small black berries if a male pollinator is nearby. However, berries are not a prominent feature of this plant.
Soft Touch Japanese Holly typically grows to about 2-3 feet tall and wide. Its slow growth rate and compact form make it an excellent choice for small gardens and spaces.
Yes, Soft Touch Japanese Holly is considered deer resistant. While no plant is completely deer-proof, its foliage is less appealing to deer compared to other garden plants, making it a safer choice in areas with deer pressure.
Sign up below to be the first to learn about exclusive deals, discounts, and new collections!
We’ll also deliver the latest tips, trends, and gardening inspiration straight to your inbox.
A big thank you for subscribing to the PBN Design newsletter.
We're thrilled to have you join our community. Get ready for exciting updates, insightful content, and more delivered straight to your inbox.
Stay tuned!
Go backA big thank you for subscribing to the PBN Design newsletter.
We're thrilled to have you join our community. Get ready for exciting updates, insightful content, and more delivered straight to your inbox.
Stay tuned!
Go back