The Japanese Holly Plant To Grow In Containers With Stunning Year-Round Color

Most container plants tell a familiar story across the seasons. They burst into life in spring, rich with color, begin slipping by autumn, and all too often stand empty in winter. It just makes you wish there was a plant you could grow in containers that would keep its stunning colors all year round. Well, such plants are rare, but they do exist. Take, for instance, the Touch of Gold Holly (Ilex crenata 'Adorned' or Ilex crenata 'Touch of Gold'). Very few container plants can truly maintain such a dazzling appearance across all seasons the way this Japanese holly variety does.

Touch of Gold brings lasting structure and radiant color, with its golden-yellow foliage that looks beautiful when paired with the green of other plants in containers or the garden. The best part? It does it all while being low-maintenance and easy to care for. While it's easy to keep in pots, you can grow it in a range of settings, not just containers, including hedges, foundation plantings, borders, and accent plantings.

This versatility of this plant comes from its compact size and growth habit. Growing up to roughly two feet tall and four feet wide, it fits beautifully into a range of spaces without ever feeling crowded. All in all, it is one of the best plants to grow in containers and to increase the aesthetic appeal of your landscape.

The Touch of Gold Holly thrives in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6 to 9, so make sure you are in the right zone if you decide to grow this plant in your container garden. Also, thanks to climate change, your growing zone might have already changed, so it's important to do your research before placing an order. Nevertheless, once you are done with that, you can choose nearly any container with good drainage.

This is important as Holly plants often develop root rot in very poorly drained or wet conditions. As for the soil, it needs to be slightly acidic and rich. Following that, choose a bright location to place the container. A spot receiving gentle morning sun, yet remaining protected enough to shield the plant from harsh, scorching afternoon light, works best.

Touch of Gold Holly is quite drought-tolerant once established. However, you will need to water it on a regular schedule as it is going through its first growing season. This will help it develop a robust root system. For fertilization, you only need to feed it once in spring, and once the shrub has matured, it requires very little fertilizer.

Touch of Gold Holly is a pretty hardy plant that does not have many pest or disease issues to begin with. However, if the plants are weak or grown in less than ideal situations, pests like scales and mites might attack them. Similarly, they can also be affected by fungal diseases like powdery mildew and leaf spot, which can easily ruin their appearance. Leaf drop and scorch are other potential issues with this Japanese holly variety. They usually appear when plants are placed in direct afternoon sun. 

Another thing to keep in mind when growing this shrub is that it is very intolerant of urban pollution. So, if you live in downtown or near an industrial or traffic-heavy area, this may not be the right choice for you. Lastly, Touch of Gold Holly doesn't need much pruning, but you might occasionally need to trim a few branches or leaves to maintain its appearance. Just make sure to use clean, disinfected tools and avoid other pruning mistakes to protect your plants.