How Fast Does Japanese Holly Grow?

Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) is prized for its small, densely packed leaves. Often grown as hedge plants, Japanese hollies in general are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 6 through 8, although some cultivars are cold-hardy to USDA zone 5 and heat-hardy to USDA zone 9. Most cultivars feature dark-blue berries that stand out against the plants' bright-green leaves. The numerous cultivars of Japanese holly cultivars grow at different rates of speed, from very slow to moderate.

It's hard to know exactly how fast a plant will grow because much growth depends on the climate, weather and immediate habitat, and Japanese holly growth is no exception. In general, however, plants with a slow rate of growth grow 12 or fewer inches per year. Plants that grow 13 to 24 inches per year have a medium or moderate rate of growth, and plants that grow 25 or more inches each year are classified as being fast-growing. Most Japanese holly cultivars fall into the moderate rate of growth range.

The cultivar 'Compacta' is just as it sounds -- a small, low growing, compact plant that is so slow-growing that it rarely needs pruning. This round, evergreen cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9 and features deeply purple berries. It grows to maximum a height and width of 6 feet. Its smaller size makes 'Compacta' an excellent choice for anywhere you need a taller ground cover specimen. It also serves quite well in small clusters to form shrub borders, or in larger groupings to create hedges. An attractive foundation plant, 'Compacta' lends itself well to formal gardens, particularly in topiaries due to its high tolerance for extreme pruning.

'Golden Gem' Japanese holly grows slowly to a maximum height and width of about 2 feet. Desirable for unusual yellow foliage, this cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8. 'Bennett's Compacta' is almost the exact opposite of 'Golden Gem' in appearance. It features dark-green, leathery leaves, but it also grows slowly. This cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9 and grows to a maximum height and width of about 4 and 5 feet, respectively.

'Sky Pencil' has a distinctively tall and slender profile. This Japanese holly grows at a moderate rate to a height of more than 6 feet tall. The maximum width of this plant, however, is only about 3 feet. 'Sky Pencil' is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9 and makes a striking container plant. 'Soft Touch' is an unusual holly because its leaves are soft to the touch. The shiny green leaves also have silver vein running down their middle. This moderate grower is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9 and grows to a maximum height and width of 3 feet. 'Drops of Gold' is perhaps the most visually stunning of all the Japanese hollies. The moderate grower features bright yellow leaves on its crown and dark-green leaves underneath. 'Drops of Gold' is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9 and grows to a maximum width and height of 3 and 6 feet, respectively.