Compact Japanese Holly

As low as $69.99 was $69.99
Availability: In stock
SKU
9903

Delightful Compacta Holly, also known as Compact Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata 'Compacta') is a popular broad-leaf evergreen ornamental shrub! With small, glossy, rounded leaves, it is one of the best substitutes for Boxwood in milder climates, in fact, the two are often mistaken for each other, and is sometimes commonly known as the Compact Boxleaf Holly as well.

The Compact Japanese Holly is well known for its low-maintenance nature, and that's a good thing. It's widely used as a foundation plant for that very reason. It looks crisp and clean. New growth emerges bright green in the spring. You'll love the glossy, year-round dark-green foliage with delightful, slightly scalloped edges.

The Compact Japanese Holly is a female selection and must have a male nearby to produce the petite, black fruit in fall. Without the male plants, these female shrubs are fruitless and fantastic broadleaved evergreens just as they are! The fruit is inconspicuous and remains persistent into winter.

Planting and Application:

A lovely broadleaved evergreen shrub, typically planted around the foundations of homes. Compact Japanese Holly has an upright habit with an oval, well-branched, compact form. These shrubs create perfect round balls that can be pruned for size as needed. The naturally beautiful shape is amenable to pruning if you desire. It can even be formed into many particular shapes, so is popular as a topiary specimen.

Given room to grow and time to reach their mature height and spread, this low-maintenance Holly will reward you with a clean formal look. Used in hedges and foundation plantings, containers and as a persistently green backdrop in garden beds! Any grouping or row of these dense plants provides fall food and year-round shelter for local songbirds!

Plant several for a lovely, low hedge under the front windows, or use one as an elegant accent at the corner of your house. A pair flanking your entry will formally welcome guests. No matter how you use Compact Japanese Holly, it creates a magnificent foil for anything in its presence.

  • Glossy Green Foliage & Compact Growth
  • Considered Allergy Free
  • White Flowers in Spring & Small Black Berries in Fall
  • Ornamental Urban Tolerant Broadleaf Evergreen
  • Wonderful Hedge or Foundation Plant

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Compact Japanese Holly has a slow growth rate of fewer than 6 inches a year. Maturing at 4-5 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide if not pruned. They can take some partial shade but will grow happily in full sun as well. Holly likes to be moist, but not wet. To establish the best root system, you'll want to give your new Holly deep waterings, then let the soil nearly dry out around the base of the plant. Compact Japanese Holly also loves slightly acidic soil conditions. If your plants need a boost, give them an early spring slow-release fertilizer if needed.

A good layer of mulch helps to retain moisture and keep the roots cool in the warmer, drier, climates as well as insulate the roots in colder winter climates of USDA growing zones 6-9. Doing best with protection from winter winds, these Holly are able to truly shine when planted along walls or against your home.

Major pruning is best done in the late winter. Additional trimming may be applied year-round to maintain a clean manicured look. The plant can be pruned aggressively to be maintained at any height.

  • Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Moderate Moisture to Higher Moisture Levels
  • Almost Any Well-Drained Soil
  • Low Maintenance - Prune to Any Size or Shape
  • Resistant to Pests & Diseases

Compacta Holly is remarkably easy to grow and is sure to bring its rich-green color and bold characteristics to your landscape for years to come. Order your own Compact Japanese Holly now for the best selection from Nature Hills Nursery today!

Buying Options for Plants

Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.

Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!

Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.

  • Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc.
  • Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc.

Nature Hills Container Size by Volume

Keep in mind, specific varieties and different growing conditions can affect the rate at which plants grow. Variations in size may occur.

Young Plants to 18 Months
Size Volume
2"x2"x3" Ranges from .18 to .21 dry quarts / .198 to .23 dry liters in volume
4.5" Container Equal to .65 dry quart / .72 dry liter in volume
Sprinter Pot Equal to .63 dry quart / .69 dry liter in volume
4" Container Ranges from .31 to .87 / .35 to .96 dry liter in volume
6" Container Equal to 1.4 dry quarts / 1.59 dry liters in volume
1 Quart Equal to 1 dry quart / 1.1 dry liter in volume
5.5" Container Equal to 1.89 of a dry quart / 2.08 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x5" Ranges from .8 to 1.1 dry quarts / .88 to 1.2 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x6" Ranges from 1.0 to 1.3 dry quarts / 1.1 to 1.41 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x9" Ranges from 1.1 to 2.1 dry quarts / 1.2 to 2.3 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x10" Ranges from 1.7 to 2.3 dry quart / 1.87 to 2.53 dry liters in volume
Plants 18 Months - 2.5 Years Old
Size Volume
2 Quart Equal to 2 dry quarts / 2.2 dry liters in volume
#1 Container Ranges from 2.26 to 3.73 dry quarts / 2.49 to 4.11 dry liters in volume
5"x5"x12" Equal to 3.5 to 4.3 dry quarts / 3.85 to 4.74 dry liters in volume
Plants 2 - 4 Years Old
Size Volume
#2 Container Ranges from 1.19 to 1.76 dry gallons / 5.24 to 7.75 dry liters in volume
#3 Container Ranges from 2.32 to 2.76 dry gallons / 10.22 to 12.16 dry liters in volume
Plants 3 - 5 Years Old
Size Volume
#5 Container Ranges from 2.92 to 4.62 dry gallons / 12.86 to 20.35 dry liters in volume
#6 Container Ranges from 5.25 to 6.01 dry gallons / 23.12 to 26.42 dry liters in volume
#7 Container Ranges from 5.98 to 6.08 dry gallons / 26.34 to 26.78 dry liters in volume

About Plant Sentry™

Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.

This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

Click Here to learn more

Plant Sentry

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.
Color Zone Times
3 Spring 2019
4 Now
5 Now
6 Now
7 Now
8 Now
9 Now
10 Now
11 Now

Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From To S&H
0 - 19.99 24.99
20 - 49.99 29.99
50 - 69.99 34.99
70 - 99.99 39.99
100 - 129.99 44.99
130 - 149.99 48.99
150 - 150+ Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

PLANT HIGHLIGHTS

Compact Japanese Holly Is Suited to Grow in Zones 6-9
Growing Zones 6-9
More Information
Brand Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name Ilex crenata 'Compacta'
Type Broad-Leaved Evergreen
Mature Height 4 - 5 feet
Mature Spread 4 - 5 feet
Sun Exposure Full Sun
Soil Well Drained
Moisture Moderate
Growth Rate Slow
Foliage Color Glossy Green
Fall Color Evergreen
Pollinator Friendly Yes
Pruning Time When Dormant