Welcome to our Plant Library! This is a new feature on our website to showcase the vast selection of plants that we carry across different seasons. We are continuously adding products, so if you are looking for a specific plant not listed below, we encourage you to call or visit to see if we have it in stock!
Soft Touch Holly
Botanical Name: Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’
Common Name: Soft Touch Japanese Holly
Mature Height and Width: 2–3′ tall × 3–4′ wide
Growth Habit: Low, mounded, spreading evergreen shrub with a soft, refined texture. Naturally dense without rigid structure; maintains a gentle, cushion-like form.
Foliage Description: Small, slightly elongated oval leaves with a smooth margin and soft matte finish. Foliage is medium to dark green and notably softer in appearance than many other Ilex crenata cultivars. Evergreen in Zones 5–7.
Flower Description: Small white flowers in late spring; not ornamentally significant. Female plants may produce small black berries if pollinated, though fruit is typically minimal in landscape use.
Bloom Time: Late spring
Fall Color: Evergreen; retains consistent green coloration through winter with minimal bronzing.
Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; performs well in filtered light and is adaptable to a range of exposures.
Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–8
Notable Landscape Uses:
Foundation plantings; low hedges; border edging; mass plantings; understory evergreen filler; mixed shrub beds; woodland edge plantings; container use in shaded patios.
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Japanese holly is generally less preferred by deer compared to broadleaf evergreens with softer foliage. While not completely deer-proof, browsing is usually limited in Zones 5–7 except under heavy winter pressure.