Soft Touch Holly (Ilex crenata Soft Touch ) is a versatile evergreen shrub that offers a unique alternative to traditional hollies. With its small soft-to-the-touch leaves and compact form it brings texture and interest to your landscape. Soft Touch Holly provides several compelling reasons to consider using it in your landscape design and requires minimal care. One of the main reasons to choose Soft Touch Holly for your landscape is its distinctive foliage. The small rounded leaves are remarkably soft and have a lush deep green color adding a touchable and visually appealing element to your garden. Unlike some hollies Soft Touch Holly lacks the sharp spines or prickly leaves making it a safe and comfortable option for family-friendly landscapes. Soft Touch Holly s compact form and slow growth rate make it an excellent choice for small gardens borders or containers. Its mounding habit creates a neat and tidy appearance requiring little to no pruning. This low-maintenance aspect makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a visually appealing shrub without the need for extensive care or maintenance. Caring for Soft Touch Holly is relatively easy. It thrives in full sun to partial shade requiring at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal growth. The shrub prefers well-drained soil but can tolerate a range of soil types. Regular watering is important especially during the first growing season to help the plant establish a strong root system. Once established Soft Touch Holly has good drought tolerance. Pruning requirements for Soft Touch Holly are minimal. Light pruning can be done in early spring to shape the shrub or remove any dead or damaged branches. However the compact form of Soft Touch Holly usually requires little pruning to maintain its attractive shape. Soft Touch Holly is generally not heavy feeders. However you can apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring if desired. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for application rates and methods. Mulching around the base of the shrub helps conserve moisture suppress weeds and insulate the roots during extreme temperatures.