Ilex crenata Convexed Gold - Japanese Holly

Ilex crenata Convexed Gold is a variety of crenate holly that is interesting for its compact habit, very dense foliage, and its small, unique, golden and shiny leaves that have a beautiful convex appearance. This relation of the common holly is a small evergreen bush that tolerates pruning very well and remains decorative throughout the year, even in winter. It can be used as a replacement for boxwood in landscaping. Its small size and natural elegance are particularly suitable for small gardens, low hedges, and container gardening. Crenate holly is easy to grow in loose, not too calcareous and slightly acidic soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Crenate holly, in Latin Ilex crenata, is a shrub native to Japan, belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family. The 'Convexed Gold' variety, as its name suggests, has been selected for its convex leaves that slightly fold outward and for their yellow colour. It is a slow-growing shrub, especially during the establishment phase that lasts from 2 to 3 years. This selection has a bushy, highly branched, low and dense habit. The branches sometimes tend to grow horizontally, giving the unpruned shrub a low and wide silhouette. At maturity, it will reach an average height of 80 cm (31.5 in) with a spread of 50-60 cm. Its tiny, round and leathery leaves are golden when they first emerge and turn slightly green in summer. They have a slight gloss and are not prickly.  All hollies are dioecious plants, meaning they are plants with male flowers and plants with female flowers. Only the female holly produces berries. In spring, the female Japanese holly produces small, insignificant but nectar-rich flowers in a matte white colour.  After being pollinated by a male holly planted nearby, these will form fleshy, round shiny black berries. Distinguishing the sex of the flowers requires a trained eye; they all have four white petals and a waxy surface, but the male flowers can be recognized by their four prominent yellow stamens, while the female flowers have a short, green, ovate pistil. The same shrub can produce both male and ineffective female flowers that cannot be pollinated. The seeds are dispersed by birds that love the fruits.

A versatile plant, growing faster than boxwood, Ilex crenata Convexed Gold will please gardeners who love French-style gardens, well-kept hedges, and topiary. It is perfect in a large pot on the terrace or balcony. Not very demanding, it mainly dislikes excess sunlight and lime and prefers well-draining, loose, deep, and fairly fertile soils. Hardy well beyond -15°C, it likes semi-shaded to shaded areas, for example under trees or an east facing situation. Plant in Zen gardens in the company of dwarf bamboo, Japanese maples, camellias... Its association with Mexican orange trees and bushy honeysuckles (Lonicera Nitida, Lonicera pileata) also works well to create structure in a mixed border.