‘If you love clipped, sculptural forms, then this is a great plant to consider,’ says Jake. Native to Japan, Ilex crenata – also known as box-leaved holly – is prized for its glossy foliage and is often used for hedging in the UK. In Japanese horticulture, however, it is more commonly shaped into distinctive cloud-like forms.
‘This technique is like topiary,’ says Jake, ‘but with a more natural, organic feel to the outcome.’
Like the Japanese Maple, Black Pine, and Juniper, it is also often used to create Japanese bonsai trees, miniature trees grown in containers. Although this ancient art form originates from China, the word ‘Bonsai’ is Japanese, and they adopted the art form over a thousand years ago. In recent times, it has become a pastime for the elderly. Now, it is the younger generations who are championing it.
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