Ilex crenata Green Lustre - Japanese Holly

Ilex crenata Green Lustre is a variety of Japanese holly that can successfully replace Boxwood in the garden, in non-calcareous and not too dry soils. This non-prickly evergreen bush, with small dark green glossy leaves, can be shaped into any desired form and has the advantage of being disease-resistant. The female plants produce pretty black berries from September to March. It is very hardy, with slightly faster growth than boxwood, and prefers a sheltered position away from scorching sun. Often used in Japanese gardens, it works well as topiary as it tolerates pruning very well.

Holly is the only genus in the family Aquifoliaceae, but there are several hundred species! The Crenate Holly, Ilex crenata, is one of those without thorns and is quite different from our Common Holly. This species is a shrub native to the Far East, but as it has been introduced and used in Japan for centuries, it has inherited the common name of Japanese Holly. Now a typical tree in Japanese gardens, it owes its popularity to its ability to be shaped into topiary and cloud-like forms.

The 'Green Lustre' variety grows quite slowly, reaching only about 90 cm (35.4 in) in height at around 10 years old, with a width of about 1.60 m (5 ft 2 in). At maturity, it can form a shrub 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall and 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) wide, making it valuable for small gardens. This compact and dense bush, with a broad and bushy habit, displays beautiful dark green, glossy, evergreen leaves without thorns. It is a dioecious plant, with female plants bearing small toxic black berries of about 6 mm (0.2 in), which remain on the plant for quite some time. The insignificant white flowers in May-June are aesthetically unremarkable due to their very small size. However, they are nectar-rich and therefore beneficial to bees. This very hardy bush is capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -27°C in good growing conditions. It has a preference for cold winters followed by temperate and not too dry summers due to its geographic origin. It grows in a sunny to semi-shaded position, even shaded in hot climates. It is a plant with fairly specific requirements, but has a remarkable feature that it can be be easily pruned.

Aesthetically similar to Boxwood, this Holly is not attacked by the Box Tree Moth and does not suffer from any diseases, making it a very good substitute for this plant. You can use it as a border plant, low hedge or shape it into a ball or any other form.  This can allow it to be integrated into a contemporary, French or Japanese garden. With slightly faster growth than boxwood, Ilex crenata 'Green Lustre' will please gardeners who appreciate well-maintained hedges and topiary. In a contemporary garden or for enthusiasts of French gardens where topiaries are in demand, it will accompany other well-suited shrubs such as Lonicera nitida, whose golden or variegated varieties will create a beautiful contrast in colour. In a contemporary garden, you can also combine it with bamboo from the genus Sasa, whose large and graphical leaves will contrast well with its small foliage. In a Japanese garden, it will work well alongside Japanese Maples, Camellias, Rhododendrons, or Nandina domestica, the sacred bamboo with light foliage and decorative red fruits.