Further Information

You'll see our recommended planting densities for each size and root type listed next to the products below. We suggest that you use these as a guide, taking into consideration how long you're willing to wait to see your finished hedge. As a rough indication bare roots can be planted at anything from 3 to 7 per metre and cell grown between 4 and 6 - the higher densities here would need to be planted in a double staggered row or zig-zag.

For more information on planting distances please see our planting density advice section. Prices shown are the price per plant unless otherwise stated.

Pruning Advice

Japanese Holly is an easy-going hedging plant in that it responds well to pruning, but it’s not necessary if you’re happy with an informal and more natural look.

It can be lightly trimmed in spring through til summer to help retain its desired shape and dense, compact growth. Look out for any dead, dying, or diseased stems and remove these to keep it healthy. This timing allows the plant to heal and grow new foliage before the colder months.

As Ilex crenata is quite resilient, it can handle being cut back severely if needed, making it perfect for formal garden designs. For this type of hard prune, aim to do it in spring ahead of its active growth season and after the last frost has passed.

Delivery & Returns

Everything you need to know about your delivery: Free delivery - this is available on all orders when you reach a minimum order value. Details are in the delivery information table below. Current delivery times: within 7 working days. *Some trees and troughs can be up to 14 days.

Product Type	Standard Delivery Charge	Minimum Order Values (inc VAT) for FREE Delivery
All Items (Excluding Root Balls and Pleached Trees)	£9.98 delivery charge (orders up to £250)	Orders of £250 and over - FREE
Root Balls	£29.99 delivery charge (orders up to £250)	Orders of £250 and over - FREE
Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery)	£450 delivery charge (orders up to £1500)	Orders of £1500 and over - FREE

Premium Delivery – Choose a day that suits you for your delivery. If premium delivery is available on the products you’ve chosen, simply select this option at checkout. For an additional £16.00, you can choose a specific date to have your order delivered. This means orders less than £250 will pay the applicable delivery fee plus £16 and orders above £250 only £16.00.

For full delivery information, including area exceptions, see our delivery page.

Ilex crenata Japanese Holly

Name: Ilex crenata
Brand: Hedges Direct
SKU: ILEC
Price: 8.99 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (163 reviews)

From £8.99

In Stock

Japanese Holly has dark green glossy small leaves and a smattering of white flowers in spring and insignificant, small black berries (poisonous) in autumn.

EVERGREEN
SLOW GROWING
HAS BERRIES
HAS FLOWERS (White)

Planting Conditions: Suitable for normal, chalk and clay soils, full sun to full shade areas and inland, exposed or coastal sites
Growth Rate: Slow growing, expect 10-20cm a year
Height: Easily maintained at 0.5-1.5m
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SKU ILEC

Benefits of Planting Japanese Holly Hedging

The Japanese Holly hedge (Ilex crenata) is a fantastic alternative to Box hedging if your garden is prone to common conditions like Box blight. It offers small, dark green foliage and dense, bushy growth. Despite being a type of Holly, don’t let the name fool you; Japanese Holly has smooth, rounded leaves with no spines, giving it a softer appearance while still maintaining a compact, structured look. This evergreen hedging plant stays lush all year round and produces tiny white flowers in late spring, which are followed by small, poisonous black berries in the autumn that provide food for birds.

As a slow-growing, low-maintenance species, Japanese Holly hedging puts on 10-20cm each year and responds well to regular pruning, allowing you to create formal borders or even shape them into topiary designs. Ilex crenata is also highly disease-resistant, giving even the most nervous gardeners peace of mind. These plants thrive in well-drained, slightly acidic soil and grow well in full sun to partial shade — making them a versatile choice for a variety of planting locations.

Our pot-grown Japanese Holly hedge plants are available all year round, making it easy to create a hedge at any time, with root ball options on hand from November to March during the plant’s dormant season.* For a smaller statement, you can also find our range of Ilex crenata topiary balls here, too. Find out more with our guide to the four hedging root types.

If you're looking for more guidance on caring for Japanese Holly, check out our Holly hedging guide for expert tips to give your hedge the best start.

*Bare-root and root-ball stock are subject to availability and may change, but are generally available from autumn through to spring.

What are root types?

Root types explained.

Bare root
Field grown, bare roots are young plants that are only planted when they are dormant, from autumn to spring. We lift bare root plants and despatch them during the season but they can be pre-ordered in summer. As they are cheaper to grow, they are one of our most affordable hedge planting options.
Pot grown
Pot grown plants can be planted year round and make a convenient option. They come in a wide range of sizes, from 10cm to 2.5m so they're suitable for the majority of planting requirements.
Root ball
Also field grown, root ball plants are scooped out of the ground using machinery to keep their root system intact and wrapped in bio-degradable, hessian sacks. They are mature plants that provide dense coverage very early on, ideal for when you need a thick hedge quickly.
Instant
Grown in troughs or bags that measure 50cm-1 metre in length and carefully clipped during the growing season. Our instant hedging troughs create a dramatic, instant hedge effect.