Touch of Gold Holly is a popular evergreen shrub with a golden twist! Golden variegated leaves decorate this naturally mounding dwarf shrub which is sure to be a bright spot in any garden it is grown. The Touch of Gold Holly is a special small leaf Holly brought to you by the Southern Living Plant Collection.
Oftentimes I have found that they make great companion plants for Boxwood shrubs, but some even opt for the Touch of Gold over the common Boxwoods due to the unique foliage color. Once established your Gold Touch Holly bush will reach approximately 2 feet in height and 4 feet in width.
The Touch of Gold does well in part sun to full shade conditions and can thrive in USDA zones 6 – 9. In order for this Holly to provide you with a lush golden shade place it in a location where it will receive 4 to 6 hours of sunlight during the warmer months.
During the first growing season water your Ilex crenata several times each week to settle. Once the shrub has been established you may reduce watering until the top 2-3 inches of soil has become dry. Holly bushes require moist, but well-draining soil. When the weather is cool grab your gloves and your shovel and start digging. The ideal time for planting Gold Touch Holly is during the late fall, early winter or early spring.
If you choose to fertilize do so in the spring using a balanced fertilizer such as Espoma Organic Plant-Tone. It is a well-rounded fertilizer suitable for shrubs and flowering plants PlantsbyMail.com offers for sale!
The Touch of Gold Holly requires no pruning! It will brighten your garden or landscape with its dazzling color all while maintaining a naturally rounded shape.
The Gold Touch has a slow to moderate growth rate allowing you to place them closer to each other than other Hollies. With a mature height of 2-3 feet in height and width you able to create a continuous hedge of shrubs by spacing them 3 feet apart. If you are seeking a more open landscape plant your Holly 5 feet away or more from buildings and/or other plants.
Don (verified owner) –
Do not plant in Texas with the summer heat. I lost 4 of the 5 where they received 4 hours of full sun and watered accordingly but was a waste of time and money. Not much support either. Never had a problem with the soil conditions. Followed correct planting instructions but will not hold up to heat regardless where they’re planted. Not much support and disappointing. Waste of time and money.
Christy Miller (verified owner) –
Good morning. We completely agree. Reflection should be performed before ordering plants during heat waves, which occur frequently in the south in the intense summer months. – Christy
Judith (verified owner) –
Nice size and condition
Garol Compton (verified owner) –
We received our Touch of Holly Shrubs in just a few days. They were packaged well, healthy, and in great condition!
Judy Harris (verified owner) –
Plants were very healthy and were packaged beautifully. They will be a wonderful addition to my garden.
Sheila (verified owner) –
Beautiful foundation plants! Great packaging!
Jerry (verified owner) –
Received the 3 bushes in one week. All plants were very healthy and with perfect root balls. Planted on day of arrival and they look fantastic. Packaging was great and absolutely no damage to the shrubs. FedEx delivered without any issues.
Sherry Burns (verified owner) –
Lovely plant. Already had gold leaves on arrival. Well packaged and prompt arrival.
Michelle (verified owner) –
I received my Touch of Gold Holly plants within 72 hours of placing the order. The plants were packaged very well and arrived healthy with no damage. Plants have been in the ground for 2 weeks and are doing great in zone 7a!
Mary (verified owner) –
I mistakenly thought it was 2 gallons instead of 2 quarts. I was disappointed in the size.
Lynn Parris (verified owner) –
Just received my order. Only a couple of gold colored leaves. Sure hope the color changes as soon as it’s in the sun! It was packed very well and is healthy looking, just way too green! Will update review once it has gotten sun for a while.
Team PBM –
Good morning. The Touch of Gold Holly is just beginning to flush into its new foliage. As the foliage sprouts it will be green. Due to the nature of photosynthesis it will turn more yellow as the sun rays become more available per the seasons. – Christy
Robert Falck (verified owner) –
Great healthy scrub arrived and fast.
Robert Falck (verified owner) –
Great healthy scrub arrived.
james d kirk (verified owner) –
Healthy plants arrived quickly and were packaged well. Soil was moist. Plant size was appropriate for the container size I bought.
Louise E Westrand –
I just discovered this shrub when looking online for a woody plant to contrast well with dwarf and miniature conifers! I have three of them now and am enjoying them very much.
Jimmy Williams (verified owner) –
Plants arrived quickly and pretty good condition. Unfortunately, FedEx didn’t take the time to follow the packaging instructions with keeping the arrows pointing up. A lot of the soils was dumped inside of the boxes. But the plants went in the ground as soon as they arrived so I no issues with the plants as of yet.
Jay (verified owner) –
Received plants quickly and in great shape. Planted one today and plan to address the other two a couple of days from now. Highly recommend!
Beverly (verified owner) –
Just received my second order of Touch of Gold Holly. They bring sunshine to the yard all year long. Packaged very well.
Patti –
I was so pleased with the dozen Touch of Gold Holly shrubs I ordered to use at our neighborhood entrance. They were delivered within 6 days and the packaging was impressive to deliver the plants in top condition. I was worried the 2.5 quart would be a small shrub, but they were about 10 inches in diameter. Big enough to make a visual impact. I highly recommend this company.
Mary (verified owner) –
Wow! What beautiful plants! All (5) 2 gal plants arrived healthy. Transit time took 4 days. One of the plants arrived with its pot slightly crushed, but the plant itself was fine. I would not hesitate to order from PBM again.
Beverly McClure (verified owner) –
I love Touch of Gold Holly. The ones I bought last fall did very well through up and down temps in North Texas, so ordered more now. They add year round color and structure to my yard. Look great with Sunshine Ligustrum
Team PBM –
I agree totally. The Touch of Gold is a beautiful plant and so easy to take care of. – Christy
Loreta Gilbert (verified owner) –
Plants arrived promptly and in perfect condition
Glenn Sutherland (verified owner) –
The plants arrived in excellent condition and the 2.5 quart size is very easy to plant.
LISA (verified owner) –
Received our plant quickly and in good condition.
LISA (verified owner) –
We Received our plant quickly and in good condition.
Betty Campese (verified owner) –
Plant arrived quickly and in great condition.
stackm1020 (verified owner) –
Gold Touch Holly arrived early winter with bright and full foliage. Great plant!
Tim Young (verified owner) –
Superior service from initial contact to plants arrival. Well packaged w/o signs of damage or drying. Will buy again when needed
Lewis Boggess (verified owner) –
Plants arrived in great condition and in a timely
manner.
Doyle (verified owner) –
Received order in just a few days.Shrubs were packaged very good and appear to be doing well.
Angel L Gonzalez (verified owner) –
I received the plant in good shape and healthy. They are doing well.
Sandra Bellomy (verified owner) –
I received this plant packaged nicely. It was in good shape and looked healthy. It is doing well after a very hot August.
candylloyd1610 (verified owner) –
love the color of this Holly gives a pop to the Garden.
Amy Puckett (verified owner) –
We love the Touch of Gold Holly shrub. Bought two initially, and just bought another four. They are all nice. Thank you, Plants by Mail!
hendersonc –
Awesome for display and adding elegance in the garden!
fulmerwillis (verified owner) –
Bright, brilliant and beautiful. Planted this one along the driveway and it has been showing off ever since. It really looks great when planted next to Purple Daydream Dwarf Loropetalum. Just another very well cared for plant from plantsbymail.com
James Robbins (verified owner) –
Great in a mass planting
Jan Bechdolt (verified owner) –
I received this plant in Aug,2020, and it was in beautiful healthy condition. It was shipped very quickly, packaged
very well, and large size. Plant is exactly as advertised with beautiful gold tips. There was no transplant shock
and is adjusting very well to humid, hot central Florida. I repotted into a slightly larger pot and no ill results.