Ilex crenata 'Convexa' | Boxleaf Japanese Holly | Evergreen Hedge Shrub | 1 Gallon Live Plant

Ilex crenata 'Convexa', commonly known as Boxleaf Japanese Holly, is a dense, evergreen shrub prized for its glossy, dark green leaves and naturally rounded growth habit. Often used as a beautiful boxwood alternative, this versatile shrub is perfect for formal hedges, foundation plantings, topiary, bonsai, and low-maintenance landscapes.

Its small, convex-shaped leaves provide year-round texture and color, while tiny white flowers appear in late spring, followed by ornamental black berries on female plants when a male pollinator is nearby. Highly adaptable and easy to shape, 'Convexa' thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates pruning exceptionally well, making it a favorite for formal gardens and landscape borders.

Whether planted as a specimen, clipped hedge, or container accent, Ilex crenata 'Convexa' offers dependable evergreen beauty throughout every season.

Key Features

• Botanical Name: Ilex crenata 'Convexa'
• Common Name: Boxleaf Japanese Holly
• Life Cycle: Evergreen Shrub
• Foliage: Glossy Dark Green, Convex Leaves
• Flower Color: Small White
• Fruit: Black Berries (female plants with pollination)
• Height: 3–4 feet
• Spread: 3–4 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
• Growth Habit: Dense, Rounded
• Light Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
• Water Needs: Moderate
• Hardiness Zones: USDA 5–8
• Characteristics: Evergreen, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant Once Established, Salt Tolerant, Easy to Prune

Perfect For

• Low hedges
• Foundation plantings
• Formal gardens
• Japanese gardens
• Topiary
• Bonsai
• Privacy borders
• Container gardens

Planting Partners

• Boxwood
• Azaleas
• Rhododendrons
• Hostas
• Ferns
• Hydrangeas
• Pieris japonica
• Ornamental grasses

Care Tips

Plant in fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Water regularly during establishment, then only during prolonged dry periods. Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain a formal shape. Apply mulch annually to conserve moisture and protect roots.