With its small leaves and naturally rounded habit, Ilex crenata 'Compacta' gives you a clean, boxwood-like look with the year-round presence of an evergreen holly. You can use it as a foundation plant, low hedge, or clipped form where you want crisp lines and fine texture without a coarse, prickly look.

Place it where it will get full sun to part shade. In hotter areas, a bit of afternoon shade can help keep the foliage looking its best, while sun encourages dense growth. Give it well-drained soil and water consistently during establishment; once rooted in, it is more forgiving of dry spells, but it performs best with even moisture and mulch over the root zone.

Plan for a mature size in the roughly 72-96 inch range in height based on your setting and pruning style, and allow space for a full, dense spread. If you are planting a hedge, spacing will depend on how quickly you want plants to knit together; closer spacing fills in sooner, while wider spacing reduces competition. Light shearing or selective pruning keeps the outline neat, and periodic shaping also helps maintain air movement through the canopy.

Feed lightly if growth is weak, and avoid sites with standing water. For the deepest color and strongest structure, keep it in a bright location, and maintain a consistent watering routine during the first growing season. With steady care, this compact Japanese holly becomes a durable, evergreen backbone plant that stays refined through the seasons.

Specifications

• Cold hardiness zone: 6-8 (-10 degrees F) - Contact your local extension to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone (we cannot guarantee hardiness in fringe zones)
• Light: Full sun   Part sun
• Growth rate: Slow
• Mature height: 72-96"
• Spread: 72-96"
• Tolerant of: Drought
• Evergreen: Yes

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