Dwarf Pagoda Japanese Holly

Ilex crenata ‘Dwarf Pagoda‘

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5b-8b (9 with afternoon shade?) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Dioecious Evergreen Shrub

Height at Maturity: 2.5-3′ in 10 years; 4-5 feet in 20 years

Width at Maturity: 18-24″ in 10 years; 3′ in 20 years

Spacing: Best as a specimen or in a spaced grouping of 3 at 4′ + apart

Growth Habit / Form: Upright Irregular

Growth Rate: Slow; 3-4 inches per year

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: Tiny, inconspicuous

Flowering Period: Late Spring

Flower Type:

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: Yes

Berry Color: Black

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Lightly Filtered Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained – Good drainage is a must for Japanese hollies!

Soil pH: 6.5 – 7.5

Maintenance / Care: Low when left to grow naturally

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-15F / Zones 5-8), Deer – more info, Clay Soil (well-drained), Air Pollution

Description

A living sculpture that is absolutely perfect for rock gardens, fairy gardens, patio containers and bonsai, introduced by the US National Arboretum, ‘Dwarf Pagoda’ has to be the most unique of all Japanese Holly cultivars. It has small rounded coin-like dark green leaves with a light halo around the edge after the light green new growth matures. The leaves are very tightly packed on very short stems on an upright but overall irregular growth habit when left to grow naturally. Tiny white flowers in spring are followed by small black berries. A slower grower adding maybe 3 to 4 inches in height per year, a 10 year old plant might reach 3 feet tall and 18 inches wide maxing out at 4 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 2.5 feet wide when all grown up. As close as it gets to a natural bonsai!

Landscape & Garden Uses

The Dwarf Pagoda Japanese Holly is perfect for use in small garden spaces and containers where it can be viewed from close up. Best as a specimen or planted in spaced groupings. A fine addition to rock gardens, elf gardens, fairy gardens, Zen gardens and containers.

Spacing: Best as a specimen or spaces at least 4 feet apart in groupings

Growing Preferences

Dwarf Pagoda Japanese Holly is easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. We suggest at least 5 hours or more of direct sun light per day. As with so many other types of ornamental plants, constantly soggy or wet soils can cause root rot or other harmful plant diseases. Where there is a soil drainage concern, either improve drainage or plant in a raised bed or mound to ensure proper drainage.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Japanese Holly shrubs.

How To Plant And Care For Japanese Holly

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