Ilex crenata: the box alternative we recommend
Photograph coming soon
Suggested lead photograph: ilex crenata: the box alternative we recommend
Ilex crenata looks remarkably like box, clips just as neatly and is not affected by box blight or box tree caterpillar. It prefers neutral to acid soil that stays moist.
For generations, box (Buxus sempervirens) was the backbone of formal planting in Britain, used for low hedges, parterres, balls and knot gardens. Box blight and box tree caterpillar have made it a difficult plant to grow in many gardens, and Japanese holly is the alternative we recommend most.
Why we like it
Ilex crenata has small, glossy evergreen leaves with the same fine texture as box. It is dense and slow-growing, which means it holds its shape well between clips. It is not affected by box blight or box tree caterpillar, and it works brilliantly for low hedges, balls, cubes and cloud-pruned forms.
Photograph coming soon
Suggested photograph: where it grows best
Where it grows best
Ilex crenata is happiest in neutral to acid soil that stays moist but drains freely, in sun or partial shade. On dry, chalky ground the leaves can turn yellow, so on those sites improve the soil with plenty of organic matter, or grow it in containers of ericaceous peat-free compost.
Planting and care
Plant from autumn to spring, water well in dry spells (especially in the first year) and mulch the roots. Clip once or twice a year in summer. In containers, water regularly and feed in spring.
Photograph coming soon
Suggested photograph: how to use it
How to use it
Repeat balls through a border for rhythm, edge paths with a low hedge, or choose a cloud-pruned specimen as a focal point in a courtyard or gravel garden.
Explore Ilex crenata
Browse Ilex crenata topiary and Ilex crenata hedging, or ask our team which forms and sizes suit your scheme.