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 kanehirae Bonsai
Ilex kanehirae
25L pot • Bonsai form • Supplied approximately 130cm tall
Plant Highlights: Mature bonsai specimen • Fine glossy evergreen foliage • Naturally compact branching • Architectural living sculpture • Ideal for patios and courtyards
Overview
Ilex kanehirae is an evergreen holly valued for its small, glossy dark green leaves and naturally fine branching, making it particularly well suited to bonsai cultivation. Carefully trained over many years, this mature bonsai specimen offers instant character and architectural appeal, with an established trunk and beautifully shaped canopy.
Its evergreen foliage provides year-round interest, while the sculptural form makes it an outstanding focal point for patios, courtyards, entranceways and contemporary gardens. Displayed in a decorative container or as a feature plant, it brings a calm, refined presence to outdoor spaces.
Why We Love It
- Beautifully trained mature bonsai specimen.
- Fine evergreen foliage provides year-round interest.
- Naturally dense branching creates elegant structure.
- Makes a striking architectural focal point.
- Long-lived specimen that rewards careful maintenance.
Plant Details
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Ilex kanehirae |
| Common Name | Kanehira Holly |
| Plant Type | Evergreen shrub trained as a bonsai |
| Foliage | Small, glossy dark green evergreen leaves |
| Flower | Small, inconspicuous white flowers on mature plants |
| Flowering Period | Late spring |
| Fruit | Small berries may develop on female plants if a compatible male pollinator is present |
| Growth Habit | Dense, slow-growing evergreen shrub with a carefully trained bonsai form |
| Position | Full sun or partial shade |
| Soil | Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil or a free-draining bonsai compost |
| Mature Height | Overall size is maintained by ongoing bonsai pruning and training |
| Mature Spread | Varies according to the trained canopy and regular maintenance |
| Hardiness | Hardy in sheltered Irish gardens. Container-grown bonsai benefit from protection during periods of severe or prolonged frost. |
Growing Guide
Position
Grow in full sun or partial shade in a sheltered position with good air circulation. Protect from cold, drying winds where possible.
Watering
Keep the compost evenly moist, especially during the growing season. Water thoroughly when the surface begins to dry, but avoid prolonged waterlogging.
Soil
Grow in a fertile, free-draining growing medium. Good drainage is essential to maintain healthy roots.
Hardiness and Winter Care
Suitable for outdoor cultivation in Ireland in a sheltered position. During prolonged severe frosts, protect the container and root system, as bonsai roots are more exposed than those of plants growing in the ground.
Routine Care
Maintain the bonsai shape with careful trimming of new growth during the growing season. Remove dead or damaged branches as required and feed during spring and summer with a balanced fertiliser suitable for container-grown plants.
Perfect For
- Bonsai collections.
- Courtyards and patios.
- Japanese-inspired gardens.
- Architectural container displays.
- Feature planting in sheltered gardens.
Good to Know
This specimen has been trained as a bonsai, with its distinctive shape developed over many years. The supplied height of approximately 130cm refers to the plant at the time of sale and not its eventual size, which is maintained through regular bonsai pruning.
Product Information
- Botanical name: Ilex kanehirae
- Trained as a bonsai specimen.
- Supplied in a 25L nursery pot.
- Supplied approximately 130cm tall.
Growing & care
- Plant type
- shrub
- Position & light
- Full sun· Partial shade· Sheltered
- Watering
- moderate
- Soil & drainage
- Well drained· Free draining· Moist
- Flowering
- Late spring· White
- Foliage
- evergreen
Useful to know
Good for containersPollinator friendly
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