Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii'

Burford Holly is a cultivar of the I. cornuta holly. The parent plant originated in Asia where it is often found in ravines and hills and alongside mountain paths. The cultivar, 'Burfordii', was discovered in Georgia with characteristics of drought and heat tolerance and, unlike the parent plant, this cultivar is easily transplantable. Burford Holly is fast growing, dense, and, because it tolerates severe pruning, can be trimmed to form a rounded large shrub, small tree (when lower branches are removed), or hedge. Pruning should be done in late winter.

Burford holly grows to 15' tall. It has revolute leaves with only one apical spine. It is noted for heavy fruit set. Ilex cornuta 'Dwarf Burford' (also known as 'Burfordii Nana') is very similar to 'Burfordii', except it grows much shorter (to only 6-8' tall), has smaller leaves (to 2" long) and sports darker foliage. The flowers are not very showy, but they are pleasantly scented. The plant is dioecious (meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). Burford holly produces its heavy fruit set without pollination (referred to as parthenocarpy).

This holly is tolerant of most soils except poorly-drained ones and can be grown in full to partial sun. The fruit and evergreen leaves make for winter interest in the landscape. The spiny leaves make this a good choice for a barrier or privacy screen or use as an impenetrable hedge. It can also be planted as a specimen, used in small groups, or planted along a foundation.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

Burford Holly can have pest problems including leaf miner, scale, whitefly, and spider mites. Powdery mildew, leaf spot, leaf rot, and tar spot are potential disease problems.  However, it is resistant to Phytophthora root rot. Depending on their planting location this shrub can exhibit chlorosis, leaf drop, or leaf scorch from high pH soils.

VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I:  Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II:  Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University

More information on Ilex cornuta.