Japanese holly
ExplorePlants
Japanese holly
Ilex crenata
Japanese holly is a small, evergreen shrub with shiny green leaves. It can grow in gardens and parks, making them look beautiful all year round!
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The Japanese holly is a dense evergreen shrub with tiny, oval, spineless leaves that are glossy dark green. It produces small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers, followed by an abundance of small, round, black berries, making it look quite different from traditional prickly hollies.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAquifolialesFamilyAquifoliaceaeGenusIlex
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Even though it's called 'holly', its leaves are smooth, not prickly!
It's a master of disguise, often mistaken for a boxwood plant!
Its dark berries look like tiny black pearls hidden among the leaves!
Some types of Japanese holly only grow a few inches tall!
Special abilities
Ability
Winter Warrior
Japanese holly can keep its green leaves all winter long, helping it collect sunlight and stay vibrant when other plants are bare.
Ability
Shape Shifter
Japanese holly has strong branches and tiny leaves that let it be pruned into fun shapes, helping it fit perfectly in any garden.
Ability
Berry Banquet
Japanese holly has many small black berries that provide an important food source for birds, helping them find snacks in cold months.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 100-300 cm
- Spread
- 100-250 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.3-0.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Collects nectar and pollen
eaten by
Pale Thrush
Turdus obscurus
Eats the plant's small berries
eaten by
Japanese Waxwing
Bombycilla japonica
Feeds on the plant's berries
Traits
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Always wash your hands after touching plants, and don't eat any berries without asking an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Japanese holly?
100-300 cm
How wide does Japanese holly spread?
100-250 cm
How big are the flowers on Japanese holly?
0.3-0.5 cm
When does Japanese holly bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is Japanese holly edible?
No
Is Japanese holly toxic?
Mild
What is Japanese holly's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Japanese holly pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
Park84 sightings14 species
Virginia, US
Dead Run Stream Valley Park
You might spot White-Tailed Deer, American Tuliptree, and Holly.
View guide →
Park49 sightings5 species
Virginia, US
West Springfield Park
You might spot Mapleleaf Viburnum, Japanese Holly, and Common Bonnet.
View guide →
Park5 sightings1 species
Virginia, US
Ashlawn Park
You might spot Japanese Holly, Asian Jumpseed, and Violets.
View guide →
Park0 sightings0 species
Maryland, US
Mellwood Park
You might spot American Pokeweed, Goldenrods, and Common Hackberry.
View guide →
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