Read practical advice
Explore straightforward guides for choosing, using and caring for garden products.
Visit the Advice CentreOutdoor plants
Product information
Everything useful in one place, with the most important information kept separate from the buying controls above.
About this product
Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’ (Japanese Holly)
Bring timeless structure and year-round greenery to your garden with Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’, a compact, evergreen shrub prized for its dense, glossy foliage and naturally neat, rounded habit. Its small, dark green leaves create a fine-textured, uniform appearance, making it ideal for low hedging, borders, or container planting. Spineless and easy to maintain, ‘Dark Green’ offers all the elegance of a traditional holly without the fuss.
Slow-growing and adaptable, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. After 5 years, it typically reaches around 60–80cm in height and 50–70cm in spread, making it perfect for formal hedges, structured garden designs, or small garden spaces.
Key Features:
- Foliage: Evergreen; dense, glossy dark green leaves.
- Habit: Compact, bushy, and naturally neat.
- Size (after 5 years): Approx. 60–80cm high x 50–70cm wide.
- Best Placement: Ideal for low hedges, borders, or container planting.
- Seasonal Interest: Year-round foliage colour and texture.
- Care Requirements: Low-maintenance; thrives in sun or partial shade with well-drained soil.
Add enduring elegance and structure to your garden with Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’ — a versatile, compact holly that performs beautifully all year round.
Growing Guide
| Hardiness | RHS H6 (−20°C to −15°C). |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | Prefers slightly acidic to neutral, moist but well-drained soil. |
Growing & care
- Plant type
- shrub
- Position & light
- Full sun· Partial shade
- Watering
- moderate
- Soil & drainage
- Acidic· Well drained· Moist
- Mature size
- 80cm high· 70cm wide
- Foliage
- evergreen
Choose with confidence
Find the right plant for your space
Use the Plant Finder, practical advice or our in-store team before deciding.
See it before choosing
Visit Easy Garden to compare products in person and speak with our team.
Plan your visit