Soft Touch Japanese Holly 1 Live Evergreen Shrub, 1 Quart Pot – Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’

Soft Touch Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’) is a compact broadleaf evergreen shrub valued for its dense, rounded growth habit and small, glossy green leaves. Unlike traditional hollies with sharply pointed foliage, this Japanese holly has soft-textured, relatively spineless leaves, making it an attractive choice for foundation plantings, low borders, formal landscapes, and decorative outdoor containers.

The plant develops a naturally neat, mounding form with closely arranged branches and fine-textured foliage. Its dark green leaves provide year-round ornamental interest, while new growth may emerge in lighter green tones before deepening in color. Small, inconspicuous whitish flowers may appear in spring, followed by dark berries when compatible pollination occurs.

Soft Touch Japanese Holly performs best in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Its compact, rounded growth habit makes it particularly suitable for low hedges, walkway borders, foundation beds, and container arrangements. As an evergreen shrub, it normally retains its foliage throughout the year, although some winter bronzing or seasonal color variation may occur in exposed locations.

Each order includes 1 live Soft Touch Japanese Holly supplied in a 1-quart nursery pot (QT).

Shipping Height: Not specified.

Shipping Size

• Quantity: 1 Live Soft Touch Japanese Holly

• Container Size: 1 Quart Nursery Pot (QT)

• Shipping Height: Not specified

• Plant Form: Rooted, Container-Grown Evergreen Shrub

• Flower Color: Small, Whitish Flowers

• Fruit Color: Dark Berries May Develop With Compatible Pollination

• Foliage Color: Glossy Dark Green

• New Growth Color: Lighter Green

• Foliage Texture: Small, Soft, Fine-Textured Leaves

• Growth Habit: Compact, Rounded, Mounding

• Bloom Season: Spring

• Seasonal Appearance: Evergreen; May Show Minor Winter Bronzing

Botanical Name Clarification: Soft Touch Japanese Holly is botanically identified as Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’. It is a cultivated selection of Japanese holly and should not be confused with American holly (Ilex opaca) or other holly species with spiny foliage.

Seasonal Appearance Disclosure: Soft Touch Japanese Holly is a broadleaf evergreen and normally retains its foliage throughout the year. Depending on winter temperatures, sunlight exposure, and growing conditions, plants may show temporary bronzing, minor leaf discoloration, or variations in foliage density.

Plant Condition Disclosure:

Live plants may be shipped dormant, leafless, recently pruned, bare root, or partially defoliated depending on season, weather, and shipping requirements.

Natural variation in size, branching, foliage density, color, root structure, and overall appearance should be expected.

Important Note:

You will receive a live starter plant (seedling/young plant). Listing photos show the plant at a mature stage for reference only. The actual plant size, shape, and appearance may vary and will be significantly smaller than the images shown.

• Quantity: 1 Live Soft Touch Japanese Holly

• Container Size: 1 Quart Nursery Pot (QT)

• Shipping Height: Not specified

• Common Name: Soft Touch Japanese Holly

• Other Common Name: Soft Touch Holly

• Scientific Name: Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’

• Cultivar: Soft Touch

• Plant Family: Aquifoliaceae

• Plant Type: Broadleaf Evergreen Ornamental Shrub

• Life Cycle: Perennial

• Plant Form: Rooted, Container-Grown Live Shrub

• Growth Habit: Compact, Rounded, Mounding

• Flower Color: Whitish

• Flower Form: Small, Inconspicuous Blossoms

• Bloom Season: Spring

• Fruit Color: Dark Berries May Develop With Pollination

• Foliage Color: Glossy Dark Green

• New Growth Color: Lighter Green

• Foliage Texture: Soft, Fine-Textured, Relatively Spineless

• USDA Hardiness Zones: Generally 5–8

• Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Soil Preference: Moist, Well-Drained, Slightly Acidic Soil

• Water Requirements: Moderate; Consistent Moisture During Establishment

• Landscape Uses: Foundation Plantings, Low Hedges, Walkway Borders, Formal Gardens, and Outdoor Containers

• Compact Evergreen Shrub: Yes

• Low Hedge Suitable: Yes

• Foundation Planting Suitable: Yes

• Formal Garden Suitable: Yes

• Garden Edging Suitable: Yes

• Soft Foliage Holly: Yes

• Year-Round Foliage Interest: Yes

• Container Suitable: Yes, With Adequate Drainage

• Outdoor Plant: Yes

• Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen

• Seasonal Appearance: Retains Foliage; May Show Winter Bronzing

• Primary Feature: Soft Glossy Green Foliage and Compact Rounded Form

Live Soft Touch Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’), natural root system, nursery growing medium, 1-quart nursery pot (QT).