Fauna
Plant

Japanese Holly

Ilex crenata

Also known as Box-leaved Holly, Boxleaf Holly, Inu-tsuge

Japanese holly forms dense, woody thickets with tiny, glossy evergreen leaves and small black berries late in the season. Spring blooms attract native pollinators, while dense branching provides shelter for songbirds year round. Landscape gardeners cultivate numerous dwarf cultivars to create tailored hedges and topiary shapes.

EvergreenBroadleafLandscape
Japanese Holly reference1 / 7
no rights reserved, uploaded by Daniel Atha · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic
Predators
  • Spider Mites
  • Black Vine Weevil
  • Root-knot Nematodes
ThreatsRoot rot, spider mite infestations, and winter desiccation
HabitatsThickets, mountain slopes, suburban gardens, and open woodlands
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. OrderAquifoliales
  2. FamilyAquifoliaceae
  3. GenusIlex
  4. SpeciesIlex crenata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Berries contain saponins toxic to humans and pets if ingested; observe safely without harvesting or eating.
Why it is dangerous
Foliage and berries contain saponins and ilicin, which cause nausea, severe vomiting, and diarrhea if consumed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognize by its alternate, tiny oval leaves with finely notched margins and shiny black fruit.
What to do
Do not ingest any plant parts and keep fallen berries away from small children and domestic pets.
Responsible observation
  • Pruning: Trim light growth in late spring to maintain dense hedging without stressing the roots.
  • Leaf Check: Inspect the underside of tiny leaves for spider mite webbing during dry summer spells.
  • Forage: Leave black berries on branches through winter as food for visiting songbirds.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…