How to Plant Helleri Holly

Though native to Japan, Helleri holly, or Ilex crenata, is a popular shrub in North America for hedges, borders and groundcover. With its glossy, deep green leaves and black, white or yellow berries, this slow-growing evergreen plant reaches between 3 and 6 feet in height and spreads 5 to 8 feet wide. It's also a low-maintenance shrub, tolerating a variety of soil conditions and resisting most pests and diseases. Helleri holly is an excellent choice for gardeners looking to grow large rows or masses of dense green plantings, since individual shrubs will eventually grow together to form a large spread.

Helleri holly shrub
Slow-release acidic fertilizer
Compost (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a planting site with partial shade to full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
- 2
  Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and the same depth as the plant sits in the container.
- 3
  Place shrub in the center of the hole, filling in with the original soil and adding compost if soil quality is poor; space each holly shrub 3 to 4 feet apart to create a hedge or further apart for a shrub border.
- 4
  Add a thick mulch to the base of the plant and water thoroughly.
- 5
  Keep soil evenly moist, providing about an inch of water every week if rainfall is not enough; one deep weekly watering is better than frequent shallow waterings.
- 6
  Prune annually, making sure that the top of the holly is narrower than the bottom to provide adequate sunlight to the lower foliage and prevent thinning.
- 7
  Fertilize in spring and fall with a slow-release, acidic plant food.
- 8
  Expect white flowery blooms in late spring to early summer.

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