Ilex crenata 'Jersey Jewel' - Jersey Jewel Japanese Holly

An absolutely stunning dwarf, dense and tightly compact evergreen shrub with tiny, deep green, cupped foliage and a wonderfully artistic habit of growth, glossy black berries if planted with a male variety; uses are endless, let your imagination run wild

Height: Plant Height: 24 inches. Spread: 24 inches. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 5b.

Ornamental features

Jersey Jewel Japanese Holly is primarily valued in the garden for its characteristic tiered habit of growth. It has dark green evergreen foliage. The small glossy oval leaves remain dark green throughout the winter. It produces black berries from mid fall to late winter.

Landscape

Jersey Jewel Japanese Holly is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a stunning habit of growth which features almost oriental horizontally-tiered branches. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Recommended for: Mass Planting, Rock/Alpine Gardens, Border Edging, General Garden Use, Container Planting.

Planting and growing

Jersey Jewel Japanese Holly will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more. This is a female variety of the species which requires a male selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.