1/10

Box-Leaved Holly

Also known as

Japanese holly, sky pencil holly, Ilex crenata. and Compact Japanese Holly

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Ilex crenata

Genus

Ilex

Family

Aquifoliaceae

Order

Aquifoliales

How to care for Box-Leaved Holly

💦 Water

How often to water your Box-Leaved Holly

Box-Leaved Holly needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Box-Leaved Holly in your home

Box-Leaved Holly love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Box-Leaved Holly does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Box-Leaved Holly in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Box-Leaved Holly

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Box-Leaved Holly: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Box-Leaved Holly after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #BoxLeavedHolly

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Box-Leaved Holly is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Box-Leaved Holly →

Benefits of Growing Box-Leaved Holly →

Common Box-Leaved Holly Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Box-Leaved Holly →

💦 Water Needs

Box-Leaved Holly prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Box-Leaved Holly Water Frequency →

Box-Leaved Holly Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Box-Leaved Holly requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Box-Leaved Holly Light Requirements →

Box-Leaved Holly Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Box-Leaved Holly is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Is Box-Leaved Holly Edible? →

Box-Leaved Holly Toxicity to Cats →

Box-Leaved Holly Toxicity to Dogs →

Box-Leaved Holly Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Box-Leaved Holly is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for Box-Leaved Holly →

Best Pots for Box-Leaved Holly →

When and How to Successfully Repot Box-Leaved Holly →

What Are Healthy Box-Leaved Holly Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Box-Leaved Holly grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Box-Leaved Holly →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Box-Leaved Holly will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Box-Leaved Holly Lifecycle →

Box-Leaved Holly Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Box-Leaved Holly →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Box-Leaved Holly can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Box-Leaved Holly Temperature Tolerance →

Box-Leaved Holly Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Box-Leaved Holly →

When to Plant Box-Leaved Holly →

How to Plant Box-Leaved Holly →

Where to Plant Box-Leaved Holly →

Winter Care for Box-Leaved Holly →

Best Companion Plants for Box-Leaved Holly →

Is Box-Leaved Holly a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Box-Leaved Holly can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Box-Leaved Holly →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Box-Leaved Holly, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.