‘Compacta’ is a cultivar of Japanese holly ( Ilex crenata ) and member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It is a low, compact, globose version of Japanese holly known for its small black fruit, rich dark green foliage, and spreading habit. There are several plants marketed under this cultivar name. The best-known was introduced by Tingle Nursery and is male. ‘Compacta’ holly likes full sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of poor, sandy soil but prefers clay. It is intolerant of alkaline soil and drought. It is easy to transplant, is urban tolerant, but has pest problems. It may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9). ‘Compacta’ is an evergreen shrub that grows to 6 feet high and wide, making it a good choice for a tall ground cover that works well as a foundation plant, hedge, or in small groups in a shrub border. Compact Japanese holly is also good in formal gardens and, because it tolerates pruning, for topiary. It is ideal for an English, Asian, or winter garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Can be susceptible to pest problems. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to yellow. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests. More information on Ilex crenata .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Obovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are alternate, simple, flat, obovate, and 3/4 of an inch long. They have a rich, lustrous dark green color with crenate-serrulate teeth.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Cyme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small (1/4 inch), dull, greenish white fragrant flowers in spring that form in clusters of 1 to 3. Pistillate cyme, in leaf axils of current season's growth; staminate solitary in leaf axils of current season's growth.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit detail
This cultivar is male and does not bear fruits.
Bark color
Dark Gray
Bark detail
Smooth, gray-brown or slightly greenish.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Stems are purple during new growth and turn more grayish or brownish as they mature.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
East Nepal to Temperate East Asia, Japan and Korea
Wildlife value
The small fragrant flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
Attracts
Bees; Specialized Bees
Food & Medicine
Edibility
Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; English Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Small groups