Overview
Uses: Narrow spaces, entryways, hedges, and outdoor containers.
Benefits: A columnar Japanese holly only about 1 foot wide, with bright golden foliage that does not burn in full sun. The color softens to fresh green in summer heat and returns to gold in cool weather. Adds year-round structure with little or no pruning.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Columnar, Upright — narrow column.
Foliage Color: Golden Yellow, softening to Lime Green in summer
Mature Height: 4–6 feet
Mature Width: 1 foot
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A slim column of gold for the spots where nothing else fits.
Columnar Japanese hollies have long been the go-to for narrow beds and tight corners, but nearly all of them are dark green. Glow Stick® keeps that upright, pencil-straight shape and dresses it in bright golden foliage. The color is strongest in spring and through cool weather, eases toward lime green in the heat of summer, then brightens again as temperatures drop in fall.
At four to six feet tall and only about a foot wide, it slips in beside a front door, between windows, or at the corners of a narrow bed without crowding a walkway. A row of them makes a slender, glowing hedge, and a single plant reads as a living exclamation point in a mixed border.
The small, glossy leaves are smooth-edged rather than spiny, giving the plant a fine, polished texture that looks almost like boxwood up close. Because it is evergreen, that gold stays through winter, when it stands out sharply against snow, bare branches, and brown lawns.
Care
Glow Stick® Japanese Holly Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Full sun brings the brightest gold; in more shade the foliage leans greener but the plant still grows well.
Japanese holly prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. It does not like heavy, waterlogged ground, and in alkaline soil the leaves can turn pale and weak, so avoid spots where water collects or where soil is very limey.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Established plants need water during extended dry spells, particularly in hot spots near pavement or reflective walls. A two-inch layer of mulch helps keep roots evenly moist.
Feeding needs are light. One application of a slow release fertilizer in early spring is plenty.
Pruning is rarely needed. If a shoot strays from the column, snip it back in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. In zone 5, a spot sheltered from harsh winter wind helps prevent leaf browning.
Growing in Containers
Its narrow shape makes it a natural choice for a pair of tall planters flanking a door. Use a pot with open drainage and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often in warm weather, and feed lightly each spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out of the mix. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Glow Stick® Japanese Holly for Sale Online?
Our Glow Stick® Japanese Holly ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. As an evergreen, it keeps its foliage through the off-season, though leaves may look less golden in winter shipping months. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Glow Stick® Japanese Holly Grow?
Expect about 4 to 6 feet tall and roughly 1 foot wide at maturity, in a narrow, upright column. Space plants about 1 to 2 feet apart for a slim hedge.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Glow Stick® Japanese Holly?
The botanical name is Ilex crenata Glow Stick® ‘NCIC2’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® shrub selected for its narrow, columnar habit and golden foliage.
What are some common names for this plant?
It is a golden, columnar form of Japanese holly, which is also called box-leaved holly.
Can Japanese holly be used in place of boxwood?
Often, yes. Japanese holly has a similar small, glossy leaf and fine texture, and it is not affected by boxwood blight, so many gardeners use it where boxwood has struggled. Glow Stick® adds a vertical shape and golden color that boxwood does not offer. Explore more Evergreen Plants.
How is it different from other columnar Japanese hollies?
Most columnar Japanese hollies are dark green, and some grow considerably taller over time. Glow Stick® stays in the four-to-six-foot range and brings golden foliage, so it works as a color accent as well as a vertical one. For more upright and compact options, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
