Ilex crenata 'Dark Green'® 30 CM BALL

Description and Characteristics

Ilex crenata 'Dark Green'® is a compact, evergreen Japanese holly cultivar, often chosen as an excellent alternative to Buxus (boxwood) due to its similar appearance and resistance to box blight and leaf scorch. This topiary specimen has been professionally shaped into a 30 cm ball, offering instant structure and elegance to formal gardens, patios, and entrances.

This variety features small, glossy, deep green leaves, very similar in texture and colour to box, but with a denser, more upright growth habit. 'Dark Green'® is slow-growing and easy to maintain, making it ideal for topiary, low hedging, or specimen planting.

Its fine-textured foliage and tight branching habit hold their shape well with minimal trimming. Ilex crenata is also known for its tolerance of pruning, urban environments, and varied soil conditions, which makes it suitable for both in-ground and container cultivation.

• Evergreen Japanese holly with small, dark green leaves

• Shaped into a 30 cm round topiary ball

• Supplied in a C7.5 container (7.5 litre pot)

• Excellent substitute for boxwood (Buxus)

• Height and width of ball: approx. 30–35 cm

• Hardy and tolerant of clipping, cold, and pollution

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Ilex crenata 'Dark Green'® is robust and low-maintenance, thriving in a wide range of garden conditions. With minimal shaping required and excellent long-term structure, it is ideal for both amateur and professional gardeners.

• Light Requirements:

  • Thrives in full sun to partial shade

  • Tolerates shaded sites but grows more densely in bright light

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil

  • Avoid highly alkaline soils (chalky soil may cause yellowing)

  • Suitable for loam, clay, or sandy substrates with good drainage

• Watering Needs:

  • Water well during establishment (first 6–12 months)

  • Once established, drought-tolerant but benefits from consistent moisture

  • In containers, water regularly and do not allow compost to dry out completely

• Feeding:

  • Feed with an ericaceous or general-purpose fertiliser in early spring

  • Top-dress containers with slow-release fertiliser annually

• Pruning and Shaping:

  • Trim 2–3 times per year to maintain topiary ball shape

  • Best times to trim are late spring and early autumn

  • Use sharp shears to retain a crisp, even outline

• Winter Care:

  • Fully hardy to approx. -15°C (RHS H5–H6)

  • Container specimens may benefit from bubble wrap or fleece on pots in harsh frost

  • Ensure winter drainage is good to avoid root rot in wet soil

Design Uses, Companion Plants, and Container Tips

Ilex crenata 'Dark Green'® adds formal structure, evergreen presence, and year-round appeal to a wide variety of garden settings. Its ball shape makes it ideal for repetition planting, symmetry, and architectural design.

• Design Applications:

  • Ideal for entranceways, courtyard gardens, patios, or terraces

  • Perfect for Japanese gardens, knot gardens, or modern formal designs

  • Use in pairs or rows to frame doors, paths, or focal points

• Companion Plants:

  • Pairs well with Lavandula, Heuchera, Taxus, Buxus, or grasses

  • Contrasts beautifully with silver foliage, flowering perennials, or ferns

  • Complements hydrangeas, hellebores, and topiary cones or pyramids

• Container Planting:

  • Use peat-free, ericaceous compost with added grit or perlite for drainage

  • Select a container at least 10–15 cm wider than the root ball for growth room

  • Ensure pots have good drainage holes and elevate off hard surfaces to prevent waterlogging

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Resistant to box blight, box moth, and most common pests

  • Occasionally affected by scale insects—treat early if noticed

  • Yellowing leaves may indicate nutrient deficiency or high pH—feed or adjust soil as needed

• Size
  30 CM BALL C7.5

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.