Japanese Holly plant profile
Ilex crenata
A perennial shrub for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Japanese Holly
Plant this broadleaf evergreen in spring or early fall, when soil is warm enough for root growth but the plant is not under summer heat stress. Extension guidance rates fall (early enough for roots to establish before the ground freezes) and spring as the two best planting windows for shrubs.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Japanese Holly in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 5 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 60 to 96 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 5a to 8bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: root rot in wet soil, scale, nematodes.
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Ilex crenata (Box-leaved Holly, Japanese Holly)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.
- Planting Shrubs Correctly (HGIC 1052)
Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center. Supports planting reference. Checked 2026-06-18.