Images Depict Mature Plants
Touch of Gold® Holly
Ilex crenata 'Adorned'
Touch of Gold® Holly is a great evergreen when you want structure but do not want another plain green shrub. The golden foliage brightens foundation beds, containers, and low hedges, and the compact habit makes it easy to use in smaller spaces. I especially like it as a boxwood-style accent where deer pressure is an issue, because it gives you year-round color, a clean, rounded shape, and very little maintenance once established.
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Golden Evergreen Color for Foundations, Borders, and Containers
Bright Golden Foliage with Year-Round Appeal.
Touch of Gold® Holly is a compact evergreen shrub grown for its small golden-variegated leaves and cheerful year-round color. The foliage glows chartreuse to golden yellow, bringing brightness to foundation beds, mixed borders, containers, and low hedges. Unlike flowering shrubs that offer a shorter seasonal display, this dwarf holly delivers color and structure year-round, making it especially useful where the landscape needs a polished evergreen anchor.
A Dwarf Japanese Holly with a Dense, Rounded Habit.
This golden Japanese holly forms a naturally dense, rounded mound that stays low and broad at maturity. Its small leaves and compact growth give it a refined texture that works well in formal and informal landscapes. Use Touch of Gold® Holly as a low hedge, edging shrub, foundation accent, mass planting, container specimen, or colorful substitute for traditional green boxwood-style shrubs.
A Colorful Evergreen for Small-Space Planting Designs.
Touch of Gold® Holly matures at about 2 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, making it easy to fit into tight garden spaces, front-of-border plantings, and low-maintenance curb appeal designs. Its spreading mound can soften hard edges along walkways and patios while adding a bright golden highlight near darker evergreens, blue conifers, burgundy foliage plants, ornamental grasses, and flowering shrubs.
Low-Maintenance Performance in Sun or Part Shade.
Touch of Gold® Holly grows best in full sun to part shade and develops its brightest golden color with good light. In hotter climates, afternoon shade can help reduce stress while still allowing the plant to hold attractive color. Plant it in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and avoid planting in areas where water sits around the roots. Once established, this holly is relatively drought tolerant and requires only light pruning to maintain its shape, if desired.
Deer-Resistant Structure for Foundation Beds and Containers.
This compact holly is a strong choice for deer-prone landscapes because its evergreen foliage is generally less appealing to deer than that of many softer shrubs. It also has good pest and disease resistance when planted in the right conditions. Use Touch of Gold® Holly where you want dependable structure, golden foliage, and year-round curb appeal without the frequent trimming required by many formal hedge plants.
| Hardiness Zone: | 6-9 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 1.5 to 2 Feet |
| Mature Width: | 3 to 4 Feet |
| Sunlight: | Full sun to part shade; best golden color with good light |
| Soil | Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil |
| Water | Moderate during establishment; drought tolerant once established |
| Bloom Time / Color | Spring; tiny white flowers that are not showy |
| Foliage | Small golden-yellow to chartreuse variegated leaves |
| Ornamental Features | Golden evergreen foliage, compact rounded habit, fine texture, year-round structure |
| Wildlife Value | Evergreen foliage provides low cover and year-round structure |
| Resistance | Deer resistant, drought tolerant once established, pest and disease resistant when properly sited |
| Landscape Uses | Foundation plantings, low hedges, borders, mass plantings, containers, edging, rock gardens, curb appeal plantings, boxwood alternative |
How to Care for Touch of Gold® Holly
Before you buy a Touch of Gold® Holly, read the recommended care instructions to keep this plant healthy and thriving.
How should I plant Touch of Gold Holly?
Plant Touch of Gold Holly in full sun to part shade where the soil is moist, well drained, and slightly acidic. Choose a site with enough room for the shrub to mature to its low, spreading shape. Good light helps bring out the brightest golden foliage, while some afternoon shade can be helpful in hotter climates. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, backfill with loosened soil, and water thoroughly. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the root zone to help conserve moisture, but keep mulch pulled away from the base of the shrub.
How often should I water Touch of Gold Holly after planting?
Water Touch of Gold Holly deeply after planting, then keep the soil evenly moist through the first growing season. During hot or dry weather, water when the top few inches of soil begin to dry. Deep watering encourages stronger root growth and helps the shrub establish more successfully. Once established, Touch of Gold Holly is moderately drought-tolerant, but it will look best with occasional deep watering during extended dry periods. Container-grown plants dry out faster than in-ground shrubs and may need more frequent watering, especially in summer. Avoid constantly soggy soil, which can stress the roots.
When should I fertilize Touch of Gold Holly?
Fertilize Touch of Gold Holly in early spring as new growth begins. Use a slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving evergreen shrubs, or topdress lightly with compost. This supports healthy foliage color, steady growth, and strong root development. Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with high-nitrogen products, because too much fertilizer can encourage soft growth and reduce the shrub’s naturally tidy habit. If the plant is growing well and holding good color, a light annual feeding is usually enough.
When and how should I prune Touch of Gold Holly?
Prune Touch of Gold Holly in late winter or early spring before new growth begins, or lightly shape after the spring flush if needed. Its natural rounded habit usually requires very little pruning, making it a good choice for low-maintenance landscapes. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches as needed, then lightly trim to maintain the desired shape. Avoid heavy shearing unless you are using it as a formal low hedge. For a natural look, selective hand pruning is usually better than frequent hard shaping.
