Pollinator plant

Japanese holly

Ilex crenata

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Common names

21 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (15)
Dutch
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 齿叶冬青[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 假黃楊[4]
  • 齒葉冬青[4]
Czech
  • cesmína vroubkovaná[4]
Estonian
  • täkiline iileks[4]
Finnish
  • japaninorjanlaakeri[4]
Georgian
  • იაპონური ბაძგი[4]
German
Japanese
  • イヌツゲ(広義)[4]
Korean
  • 꽝꽝나무[4]
Lithuanian
  • Rinčiuotasis bugienis[4]
Polish
  • Ostrokrzew bukszpanowy[4]
  • Ostrokrzew karbowanolistny[4]
Russian
  • Падуб городчатый[4]
Slovak
  • cezmína vrúbkovaná[4]
Spanish
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Ilex crenata — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Japanese Holly — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex crenata.
  • Box Leaved Holly — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex crenata.
  • Box-leaved Holly — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex crenata.
[2] Ilex crenata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese holly — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Buchsbaumblättrige Stechpalme — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Japanische Stechpalme — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • box-leaved holly — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Acebo crenata — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Japanse hulst — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ilex crenata ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Japanese holly (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 139471; taxon 3PFBS.
  • Japanische Stechpalme (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 139472; taxon 3PFBS.
[4] Ilex crenata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese holly — results[27].names[1]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Buchsbaumblättrige Stechpalme — results[27].names[20]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Japanische Stechpalme — results[27].names[12]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • box-leaved holly — results[27].names[2]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Acebo crenata — results[27].names[17]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Japanse hulst — results[27].names[5]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • 假黃楊 — results[27].names[3]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • täkiline iileks — results[27].names[4]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • cesmína vroubkovaná — results[27].names[6]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • イヌツゲ(広義) — results[27].names[7]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Падуб городчатый — results[27].names[8]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • 齿叶冬青 — results[27].names[9]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • 꽝꽝나무 — results[27].names[10]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • 齒葉冬青 — results[27].names[11]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • იაპონური ბაძგი — results[27].names[13]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Rinčiuotasis bugienis — results[27].names[14]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Ostrokrzew karbowanolistny — results[27].names[15]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • Ostrokrzew bukszpanowy — results[27].names[16]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • japaninorjanlaakeri — results[27].names[18]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
  • cezmína vrúbkovaná — results[27].names[19]; taxon id 133240; Ilex crenata.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Ilex crenata is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Aquifoliaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
1.52–3.05 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
1.52–2.44 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Multi-stemmed; Rounded; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
E. Nepal to Temp. E. Asia.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from June to July.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Ilex crenata — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 429979; ID 3PFBS; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 429979; ID 3PFBS; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Ilex crenata — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Ilex crenata — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 823517; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1448447, 1448448, 1448449, 1448450, 1448451, 1448452, 1448453, 1448454, 1448455, 1448456, 1448457, 1448458, 1448459, 1448460, 1448461

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.