Burford Holly Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii'

Burford holly is a female cultivar of the Chinese holly and a member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It is a dense, evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow 15 to 25 feet tall and 8 to 15 feet wide. 

The Burford holly grows best in rich, well-drained, and slightly acidic soils. It is tolerant of most soils except poorly drained ones and can be grown in full to partial sun. If planted in shady areas, fruit and flower production is significantly reduced. It is dense and tolerates severe pruning. It can be trimmed to form a rounded large shrub, a small tree, or a hedge. Pruning should be done in late winter. When pruning, keep in mind that blossoms and fruit will appear on new growth. It is drought tolerant once established, low maintenance, and easy to grow. 

The leaves are glossy, dark green, and leathery, and usually have a single terminal spine. Of all the hollies, the leaves of Burford holly are the darkest green and the glossiest. In the spring, small white flowers emerge and are very attractive to bees. The abundant red berries ripen in the fall and persist through the winter months. Like all hollies, Burford Chinese holly is dioecious (female and male flowers on separate plants), but it also produces its heavy fruit set without pollination.

The fruit and evergreen leaves make for winter interest in the home landscape. The spiny leaves make this a good choice for a barrier or privacy screen or use as a formal impenetrable hedge. It may be planted as a specimen, used in small groups, or planted along a foundation. The Burford holly can also be pruned to form an attractive vase-shaped small tree. It is recommended for Asian, winter, English and pollinator gardens. 

Quick ID Hints:

• dense rounded evergreen shrub or small tree
• dark green, glossy, leathery, 2 to 4-inch leaves with entire margins except for a single terminal spine at the apex
• occasionally may have 2 lateral spines on the leaf edges
• small, fragrant, white flowers in the spring
• abundant small, round, dull to bright red berries in the fall that persist through the winter

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Burford holly can have pest problems including leaf miners, scale, whiteflies, and spider mites. The infestations of tea scale and tar spots can be severe. 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.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests.

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 The species is erroneously given as Ilex cornuta.

More information on Ilex cornuta.