If you want a neat, low evergreen that looks polished year-round, Ilex crenata 'Soft Touch' (Japanese Holly 'Soft Touch') is an excellent choice. This compact Japanese holly forms a dense, rounded mound of small, glossy green leaves with a softer feel than many hollies, making it easy to place along walkways, borders, and foundation plantings.

Give your plant full sun to part shade for best density and color. In hotter areas, a little afternoon shade can help keep foliage looking its best. Plant it in moist, well-drained soil that trends acidic, and water consistently during the first season so roots establish evenly. Once established, it can handle short dry spells, but it performs best with occasional deep watering during extended heat or drought.

At maturity, expect about 24-36 inches tall with a similar spread, depending on growing conditions and how you prune. Mulch around the base to moderate soil temperatures and hold moisture, keeping mulch a few inches back from stems. If you need a tighter outline, shear or selectively prune after the main flush of growth to maintain a clean, mounded shape.

Hardy in USDA Zones 5-8, 'Soft Touch' is a reliable evergreen structure plant for mixed beds, low hedges, and repeated accents. It is also noted for tolerating deer better than many broadleaf evergreens, though browsing can still occur when pressure is high.

Specifications

• Cold hardiness zone: 5-8 (-20 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: 24-36"
• Spread: 24-36"
• Tolerant of: Deer, Drought, Poor Soil
• Evergreen: Yes

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