Ilex Crenata Fastigiata Japanese Holly

Ilex Crenata Fastigiata Japanese Holly is a tall evergreen columnar shrub with small densely packed green leaves. It’s an excellent alternative to box, ideal for hedging and holds the RHS AGM. 

Ilex Crenata is commonly known as Japanese Holly. It’s native to China, Japan, and Korea but suits our climate and is widely grown here for structure and as a topiary shrub. This fastigiate variety is bred as a tall, narrow shrub that’s stiff upright branches narrow near the top. Its evergreen foliage is small, glossy and densely packed and creates a thick hedge or sturdy base for tall topiary. Tiny white flowers emerge in spring which are followed by small black berries on female plants. The flowers are especially attractive to pollinators.

Japanese Holly Fastigiata is an award-wining evergreen that creates height and structure all year round. If you’re in need of winter colour and some height in the garden it’s a good choice.

Height And Spread of Ilex Crenata Fastigiata
Slow growing Japanese Holly Fastigiata grows upright and reaches a height of 4 metres while only reaching a maximum of 1.5 metres in width.

How Hardy Is Ilex Crenata Fastigiata
This is a hardy shrub that easily withstands below zero winters in the UK if its roots are well-drained. It’s rarely bothered by pests and tolerates some drought.

How To Use Ilex Crenata Fastigiata
If you live in an area prone to box blight this is an excellent alternative as it doesn’t suffer from blight. It’s an ideal focal plant for structure when left to reach its full height, for example on either side of doorway or arch, and can be kept smaller with regular trims because it’s very forgiving towards pruning.
Alternatively use it as a thick dense hedge, wind shelter around seating, or block out your neighbours all year round.
You can grow Japanese Holly Fastigiata in a container, but it must be well watered and fed in the growing months and prevented from toppling over on windy days.

How To Care For Ilex Crenata Fastigiata
Japanese Holly Fastigiata is easy to grow and tolerates the majority of sheltered and exposed positions. It likes full sun, but will grow in partial shade and is not fussy about soil type.
Water it well until established and apply a thick layer of organic mulch to the roots in the spring.
Pruning isn’t necessary because it naturally grows in a narrow column, but it takes well to topiary and you can lightly trim it to suit your preference in late winter or early spring.