Stokes Japanese holly is a male cultivar of Japanese holly ( Ilex crenata ). Stokes Japanese holly is an evergreen, slow-growing, compact shrub and a member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). Stokes Japanese holly is a male plant and does not produce fruits. Plant in full sun or partial shade in moist, acidic, well-drained average soil though it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry. ‘Stokes’ grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, which is somewhat smaller than typical Japanese holly. It is very cold hardy. The small glossy dark green leaves on the compact, rounded shrub resemble boxwood. It tolerates drought, shade, air pollution, poor soils, and clay soils and is easy to transplant. It may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9). The plant is amenable to pruning and can be used for hedging or topiary. It works in foundation plantings or borders. The slow growth rate makes this cultivar able to grow in containers. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to turn 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
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Smooth; Waxy
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are alternate and simple and are shaped elliptic or ovate to oblong-lanceolate. Dark green leaves that are 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches long and are crowded on stems. Their dark green color provides winter interest.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Cyme; Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Non-showy, 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 produce fruit.
Bark color
Dark Gray; Green
Bark detail
Smooth, gray-brown or slightly greenish.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Stems are green on current season growth, and turn gray-green to gray-brown by year 2 or 3. They are often densely pubescent on young stems. Dense and rigid at maturity.
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; Pollinators
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edibility
Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Container; Lawn; Patio; Slope/Bank; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Small groups; Specimen