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shrub

Schwoebel's Compact Japanese Holly

Ilex crenata 'Schwoebel Compacta'

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Schwoebel's Compact Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata 'Schwoebel Compacta') at Frisella Nursery

Schwoebel's Compact Japanese Holly foliage

Schwoebel's Compact Japanese Holly foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  4 feet

Spread:  5 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  5a

Other Names:  Box-leaved Holly

Description:

A low, wide growing, densely branched evergreen shrub with slightly convex light green foliage that resembles boxwood; a lovely choice for use in shrub borders, as a low hedge or massed in the landscape; protect from winter sun and winds

Ornamental Features

Schwoebel's Compact Japanese Holly is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It has attractive light green evergreen foliage. The small glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain light green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Schwoebel's Compact Japanese Holly is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds and bees to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Schwoebel's Compact Japanese Holly is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Schwoebel's Compact Japanese Holly will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight Soil pH Preference
Characteristics
Massing  Screening  Garden  Naturalizing 
Applications
Foliage Color  Texture  Plant Form  Winter Value  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features

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