Soft Touch Holly

Plant name: Soft Touch Holly

Scientific name: Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’

Plant description:
Soft Touch Holly is a compact, mounded evergreen shrub selected for its fine texture and spineless foliage. This cultivar of Japanese holly forms a dense, rounded shape without the sharp leaf spines commonly associated with traditional hollies. Its naturally tidy growth habit makes it suitable for foundation plantings, low hedges, and mass landscape use.

Flower description:
Small, inconspicuous white flowers appear in spring. Blooms are not highly ornamental but may attract pollinators. Female plants can produce small black berries if a compatible male pollinator is nearby.

Leaf description:
Leaves are small, oval, and glossy deep green with smooth, soft margins. The foliage resembles boxwood in appearance but maintains the durability and evergreen reliability of holly. Leaves are closely spaced along the stems, creating a dense, uniform surface.

Deciduous or evergreen:
Evergreen

USDA grow zones:
USDA Zones 5–8

Mature height and width:
Typically 2–3 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide, forming a compact, rounded mound

Landscape uses:
Suitable for foundation beds, low borders, mass plantings, and formal garden designs. Works well as a boxwood alternative in structured landscapes. Its compact size makes it effective in smaller garden spaces and along walkways.

Native range:
Species native to Japan, Korea, and parts of eastern Asia; ‘Soft Touch’ is a cultivated selection

Sun exposure:
Full sun to partial shade. Performs well with several hours of direct sunlight but also tolerates light shade.

Water requirements:
Moderate water during establishment. Once established, it benefits from consistent moisture in well-drained soil. Avoid prolonged waterlogging.

Pests and problems:
Generally low maintenance. May occasionally experience spider mites or scale insects. Chlorosis can occur in highly alkaline soils. Good drainage and proper soil conditions support long-term health.

Heat and sun tolerance:
Tolerates summer heat when soil moisture is maintained. Mulching helps regulate root temperature during extended warm periods.

Cold tolerance:
Hardy to USDA Zone 5. Foliage remains evergreen through winter, though harsh winds can cause minor leaf burn.

Growing tips:
Plant in well-drained soil with slightly acidic conditions for best foliage color. Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain a uniform shape. Avoid heavy shearing, which can reduce the natural texture. Apply mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch clear of the stems. Light fertilization in spring supports steady, balanced growth.

---SHIPPING NOTICE PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS!---

 We WILL NOT refund the purchase of or the shipping cost of live plants purchased with the intent to be shipped to states that do not authorize importing live plants or to states with restrictions! Purchases to these states will be held for 30 days for pick-up at our Slidell, Louisiana store and the shipping cost associated with these purchases will be held for the care of the plant while waiting to be picked up. All sales are final. If the plant(s) purchased are not picked up within 30 days from the date of order, these items will be returned to our sales inventory and you WILL NOT be refunded. Thank you for understanding these policies.

Due to regulations, certain states have restrictions on importing plants. Please review the list below to ensure you're not attempting to order any restricted plants in your area.

**Important Note:** We do not ship any plants outside the U.S.

State-Specific Restrictions - We ARE NOT responsible for any plant(s) that are not listed in these restrictions. Purchaser bears all responsibility for making sure the plant(s) they desire to purchase are not banned from being imported to the shipping state:

Arizona: Juglans spp.  

California: Castanea spp., Juglans spp., Pinus spp., Quercus spp.  

Colorado: Some counties restrict Prunus spp. Please verify your local county regulations.  

Florida: Castanea spp., Cornus spp., Quercus spp., Cornus mas 

Georgia: Vaccinium spp.

Hawaii: Pinus spp. 

Idaho: Humulus lupulus, Mentha spp., Vitis spp.

Indiana: Fragraria spp., Rosa spp. 

Kansas: Juglans spp.

Michigan: Abies spp., Vaccinium spp.

Montana: Pinus spp.

Nevada: Allium spp.

, Mentha spp. 

New Jersey: Rosa spp.  

New York: Vitis spp.  

Oregon: Allium spp., Castanea spp., Corylus spp., Humulus lupulus, Quercus spp., Sambucus nigra, Ulmus spp., Vaccinium spp., Vitis spp.

Texas: Juglans spp. 

Washington: Allium spp., Castanea spp., Corylus spp., Humulus lupulus, Vaccinium spp., Vitis spp.  

Wisconsin: Abies spp., Pinus spp., Picea spp., Mentha spp. 

Additionally, we cannot ship plants in soil medium to the following states: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, HI, ID, KS, MS, MT, ND, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA.