Ilex crenata Soft Touch

Close-up of dense glossy green leaves
Rounded green garden shrubs beside lawn
Round green boxwood shrubs with tree trunk

Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’ is a refined Japanese holly valued for its delicate, fine-textured foliage and naturally mounded habit. The small, glossy green leaves create a softer look than many boxwood alternatives, lending this cultivar a more relaxed appearance in the landscape. It grows best in full sun to partial shade with evenly moist, well-drained, acidic soil and maintains a tidy shape with minimal pruning. Hardy in USDA Zones 5–9, it typically reaches 2–3 feet tall and wide and works beautifully in borders, containers, and low hedges.

Overview

Common Name: Soft Touch Japanese Holly

Annual Growth Rate: 2-4"

Shape: Globose

USDA Zone: 5-9

10-Year HxW: 3'x3'

Sun Needs: Full Sun/Part Shade