| Scientific Name | Ilex crenata 'Soft Touch' |
| Common Name | Soft Touch Japanese Holly |
| Hardiness Zone | 5 to 8 |
| Size | Dwarf, mounded, compact form. To 2' tall by 3' wide |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Exposure | Sun to part shade |
| Group | Shrub - Evergreen |
| Characteristics | Leaves alternate, simple, very small (1"), ovalish. Silver midvein, flexible branches and soft foliage. Very similar to Ilex crenata 'Helleri' but smaller and much less stiff. |
| Landscape Uses | Good for textural differences in foundation plantings. Good as a backdrop for miniatures roses or annuals - helps the colour of the small flowers stand out. Can be used as a low hedge or in a formal landscape because of its dense rounded shape. |
| History | Introduced in the 1980's by Magnolia Garden and Nursery, Chinchula, AL. |
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Photo credit: Lisa J. Miner