Planting Position: Ideal for a wide range of areas from full sun through to partial shade also planted under trees in semi shade, suitable for city centre planting. Soil: Any free draining damp soil does particularly well in Humus rich but is extremely versatile. Suitable for container planting: Yes ideal for a wide range of conditions, Containers, Troughs, Beds, Borders, Window Boxes, Balconies and terraces.
Eventual height and spread: Not really applicable as the plant more suited to being pruned and kept tidy.
Growth speed: In topiary form quite slow, as plants should be pruned to keep desired shape. ( In hedging form plants that were planted 6 years ago at approximately 15-20cm are know approximately 130cm. Flowering Period: Small Inconspicuous white flowers during April and May.
Pruning: Very easy to do as the plant has excellent regeneration, should be done approximately twice a year to keep a nice shape and compactness, due to its wonderful regeneration it is suitable to be used to create other shapes of green art and topiary.
Foliage: Small mid to dark green leaves a little shiny approximately 2cm in length
Evergreen: Yes
Hardiness: -15.
A good start for you Ilex Crenata 'Dark Green' would when you have dug your hole loosen the soil at the bottom and improve by adding compost or organic material NOT FERTILISER. Although this wonderfully tough plant has no real speclal requirements it will like most other garden products benefit from some fertilisation during the growing period, April to early September, this should be done with an organic liquid fertiliser, which introduces itself to the soil more gradually. Like most other garden plants it does not tolerate drought so ensure a good water supply during the warmer months. It has no special requirements during the winter months.
