Topiary
Ilex crenata
Japanese holly
Tiny, glossy, dark green leaves that clip as tightly as box, without the blight or the caterpillar. Our first choice for balls, domes and cloud-pruned shapes.
The best evergreen alternative to box
Balls, domes, cubes and cloud-pruned forms
Happy in pots or in the ground
At a glance
Type
Topiary
Foliage
Evergreen
Shapes
Balls, domes, cubes, cloud-pruned (niwaki) forms and bespoke shapes
Growth rate
Slow
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Moist but well-drained, neutral to acid; dislikes dry chalk
Pots or ground
Both, with regular watering in containers
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
Individually shaped pieces in a range of sizes. Ask our team for current shapes and pricing.
Why we love it
If you miss box, this is the plant to grow instead. Ilex crenata has the same small, dense, glossy leaves and clips just as tightly, but it isn't troubled by box blight or box tree caterpillar. It's also the classic plant for cloud pruning, where layered pads of foliage turn a shrub into living sculpture.
Choosing a shape
Balls and domes are the easy win: repeat them through a border and they hold the planting together all winter. Cubes give a more contemporary rhythm, and a cloud-pruned specimen makes a focal point in a courtyard or gravel garden. See all our topiary balls to compare sizes.
Planting and care
Plant from autumn to spring into soil that holds some moisture and is neutral to acid, or use ericaceous peat-free compost in a pot. It doesn't like drying out, so water well in dry spells, especially in containers. Trim once or twice in summer to keep the shape sharp.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes. It gives a very similar look and is not affected by box blight or box tree caterpillar.
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Cloud pruning, or niwaki, is a Japanese technique that shapes a plant into layered pads of foliage on sculptural branches. Ilex crenata is one of the best plants for it.
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We keep a very well-stocked nursery, but our stock changes with the seasons, so availability varies. Please email us before you visit and we will check what we have and the sizes available.
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Yes, and we recommend it. Every piece of topiary is hand-shaped, so no two are quite the same. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey to choose your pieces by eye. Walk in any time during opening hours, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide. Deliveries are arranged by our dedicated in-house operations team, and larger pieces can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett where needed.
All our topiary
Explore every option in our topiary collection, or view them all with photographs →
Ilex crenata
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.