Soft Touch Japanese Holly
Ilex crenata 'Soft Touch'
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Soft Touch Japanese Holly - Quart Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H |
---|---|---|
$0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
$20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
$50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
$70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
$100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
$130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
$150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
#1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
#3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
#6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
#7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Soft Touch Japanese Holly highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateFast
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Flower Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pollinator Required
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring

Growing Zones 5-9
Gorgeous yellow branching and glossy little fine-textured foliage, the Soft Touch Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata 'Soft Touch') is a broad-leaved evergreen shrub that offers year-round interest. This Japanese Holly is sure to please with its ornamental features and hardy nature!
Unlike many Holly varieties with stiff, pokey leaves, Soft Touch is named for its gentle foliage that is so flexible it veritably invites you to run your hand over its surface. The allure doesn't stop there as each glossy, dark green leaf features a delicate silver midvein that lends a touch of shimmer to this shrub's already vibrant appearance in your landscape.
You may not notice the petite blossoms in spring, but your pollinators will seek them out. Although Soft Touch is grown for its foliage, this female plant may produce some small black fruits if pollinated by a nearby male plant. Then later in the season, you and your local songbirds certainly won't miss the black berries that arrive in fall and persist into the winter months!
Soft Touch Japanese Holly is a dwarf broadleaf evergreen and has a dense rounded nature that is amenable to pruning if desired. Soft Touch is considered a low-maintenance shrub, so you can generally just plant it and forget about it. Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 9 and grows to a neat and tidy 2-3 feet in height and width.
Planting and Application:
Plant several as a low border along your sidewalk, or use just one as a lovely accent near your perennial bed or patio. The formal and naturally rounded form looks fantastic throughout low-maintenance landscapes, en masse, and in defining rows and groupings to accent any sun garden! The soft foliage is perfect for use along walkways and the driveway so you won't worry about poking or snagging garments.
Your wildlife will appreciate a Soft Touch in your yard for its food and shelter, but you'll love it for its year-round appeal, its evergreen nature and ornamental features a step apart from the average landscape Holly! Plant multiples to ensure pollination and berries.
- Soft, Light Green Leaves & Silvery Margins
- White Flowers & Black Berries on Female Shrubs
- Dwarf, Fine Textured Broad-Leaved Evergreen
- Fast-Growing Year-Round Interest
- Definition, Borders & Edging, Pathways & Specimens
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Highly adaptable, Japanese Holly do best in full sun and these shrubs love slightly acidic moist soil, but it must be well drained. Plant it in well-drained soil for best results in any kind of slightly acidic location and give them 3-4 inches of arborist mulch over the root system retain moisture, and insulate the roots. Best in moderate moisture throughout the growing season and provide a good drink before winter. They'll survive through a moderate drought. Once established, they can even tolerate neglect. The best time for pruning is early spring and you can prune evergreen Holly into to most any shape or form.
- Shines in Full Sun
- Moderate Moisture Needs
- Acidic Well-Drained Soil Types
- Prune Very Early Spring
- Cold Hardier Than Other Varieties
Holly plants are among the most popular choices for ornamental shrubs, and Soft Touch Japanese Holly is another stellar example of a variety with unique and useful features for the homeowner! Try just one this year and you're sure to return for more once you witness firsthand all that this lovely Holly has to offer. Order one today at NatureHills.com!