Soft Touch Japanese Holly
Soft Touch Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata 'Soft Touch')
Soft Touch Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata 'Soft Touch') is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub valued for its exceptionally soft, fine-textured foliage and dense, rounded growth habit. This cultivar offers a unique tactile appeal alongside its neat appearance, making it a standout choice for formal hedges, foundation plantings, and topiary.
Distinctive Features
'Soft Touch' features small, glossy dark green leaves with a velvety texture that provide a lush, dense coverage. The shrub produces small white flowers in spring, followed by black berries that add subtle winter interest and attract wildlife.
Growing Conditions
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soils; adaptable to a variety of soil types
- Water: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture, especially during establishment
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5�8
Ideal Uses
- Formal Hedges: Ideal for creating soft-textured, dense screens
- Topiary: Suitable for shaping and sculpting detailed forms
- Foundation Plantings: Provides year-round structure and texture near buildings
- Mixed Borders: Adds fine texture and evergreen interest
- Container Gardens: Works well in pots and small spaces
Low Maintenance Care
- Watering: Maintain consistent moisture during dry spells
- Pruning: Light pruning to maintain shape and promote dense growth
- Fertilizing: Apply balanced fertilizer in early spring
- Mulching: Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds
- Protection: Provide shelter from harsh winter winds to prevent foliage damage
Why Choose Soft Touch Japanese Holly?
- Soft, Fine-Textured Foliage: Offers a unique tactile and visual appeal
- Dense, Compact Growth: Ideal for formal hedges and topiary
- Versatile Use: Suitable for hedging, topiary, borders, and containers
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care and pruning
- Winter Interest: Produces small black berries adding seasonal texture
Ilex crenata 'Soft Touch' is a distinctive evergreen shrub that enhances landscapes with its elegant form and lush, tactile foliage.
OUR SIZING
Not sure what 2 inch B&B or 30 Gallon Clump really means? This guide breaks down all our plant size terms so you know exactly what to expect, whether you're ordering online or picking up at our nursery. From caliper measurements to container volumes, we've decoded our system to help you shop with confidence.
Plant Detectives Shipping Guide
Nationwide plant shipping made easy. Learn how we ship trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials. No order too big or too small. Fast, careful, and contractor-friendly.