Ilex crenata Glorie Gem (Globose) - Japanese holly
Ilex crenata Glorie Gem (Globose) - Japanese holly
Ilex crenata Glorie Gem
Japanese Holly, Box-leaved Holly, Box-leaved Ilex, Dwarf Holly
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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty
More information
We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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Description
Ilex crenata 'Glorie Gem' is a slow-growing variety of crenate holly (or Japanese holly) with a very compact habit. As broad as it is tall, it has small, dark green, glossy, non-prickly leaves that are evergreen all year round. Its modest development, very dense foliage and excellent tolerance to pruning make it ideal for forming topiary, those plant sculptures inseparable from formal gardens. Its good hardiness means it can be grown in most regions, in neutral to slightly acidic soil that is not too dry.
Ilex crenata, the type species, is native to temperate regions of Asia (China, Japan, Russia). It was introduced to Europe in the 19th century and to France in 1895.
It has rigid branches, small glossy green leaves with a convex shape, resembling boxwood leaves and measuring 1 to 3 cm in length. Very inconspicuous greenish-white flowers (5 mm) appear in May-June. It is a dioecious plant, meaning that a specimen is either female or male. In autumn, female plants bear small, shiny black berries, 2 to 6 mm in size, which persist throughout the winter. In its native habitat, this shrub can exceed 5 m in height, but not in our gardens.
Many selected varieties have much slower growth; 'Glorie Gem' will reach 1 m in all directions. Its main quality is its very dense branching and glossy dark green foliage, with slightly toothed (crenate) leaves, no more than 2 to 3 cm long.
This crenate holly 'Glorie Gem' can easily be shaped into a ball, a low hedge, or other forms and will find a place in formal gardens, Japanese gardens (it is a historical component of these) or contemporary gardens. In short, in any garden where volume and colour take precedence over the individuality of the plant. It can be associated with other architectural plants such as columnar conifers with bluish foliage, like Juniperus 'Blue Arrow', to create contrast in shape and colour. As it thrives in slightly acidic soil, many ericaceous plants, or similar, will make good companions, such as camellias, Japanese maples or the magnificent star magnolia. It will also be perfect in a nice wooden container (like those used for orangery plants) to decorate a terrace or along a path.
Although present in France for over a century, crenate holly was little used until recent years, with boxwood dominating gardens and especially French formal parks. Following the problems with pest attacks, alternatives to boxwood have been sought, and crenate holly is one of them. Visually, it resembles boxwood with its small, domed, glossy green, non-prickly leaves, and it tolerates clipping very well.
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Ilex
crenata
Glorie Gem
Aquifoliaceae
Japanese Holly, Box-leaved Holly, Box-leaved Ilex, Dwarf Holly
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
To plant Ilex crenata 'Glorie Gem', mix potting compost with compost and incorporate it into the soil of your garden (half and half if your soil is a little poor in organic matter). In heavy soil, incorporate coarse gravel at the bottom of the hole to create a drainage layer; the holly must not have its roots soaked in winter! Plant in autumn or spring, outside of frost periods, in its final location, as this species hates being transplanted.
Soak the holly's root ball in a bucket to thoroughly moisten it before planting, then water after refilling the planting hole. Keep the soil moist in summer by watering when necessary. From the second year onwards, feed lightly, preferably with an organic fertiliser in spring.
Ilex crenata 'Glorie Gem' is susceptible to white scale insects in spring and aphids; inspect the foliage from time to time so as to be able to take action in time (treatment with black soap to wash the foliage).
When planting in a container or pot, choose a slightly acidic compost (pH around 6.5) by adding a little lime-free sand (about 20%) to improve drainage. Then water regularly throughout the season. Apply slow-release fertilisers at the beginning of the season, choosing formulas that are not too high in nitrogen.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:- In zones 9 to 10 (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), flowering will occur about 2 to 4 weeks earlier.
- In zones 6 to 7 (Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and lower mountainous regions), flowering will be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks.
- In zone 5 (Central Europe, Scandinavia), blooming will be delayed by 3 to 5 weeks.
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
- In Mediterranean zones (Marseille, Madrid, Milan, etc.), autumn and winter are the best planting periods.
- In continental zones (Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, etc.), delay planting by 2 to 3 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 2 to 4 weeks in autumn.
- In mountainous regions (the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, etc.), it is best to plant in late spring (May-June) or late summer (August-September).
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
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