Burford Holly Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii'
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks kor-NOO-tuh
- Description
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Burford Holly is drought and heat tolerant and easily transplanted, but has pest problems. Burdford Holly is fast growing, dense, and can become a rounded large shrub, small tree (when lower branches are removed), or hedge. This plant has been used as foundation planting, but must be severely pruned.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves bullate with terminal spine (usually no lateral spines).
- Abundant bright red fruit.
- Stems are yellow-green in color.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Flowers Galore Woodland Backyard Garden Walk
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Burfordii Nana (compact form)
- Burfordii Nana (compact form)
- Burfordii Nana (compact form)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Burfordii Nana (compact form)
- Burfordii Nana (compact form)
- Burfordii Nana (compact form)
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- cornuta
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Plant produces bright to dull red berries in clusters of 3-8 that are spiny only at the apex. Fruits are heavily produced without pollination (parthenocarpic) and persist into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, dull white flowers in spring; 0.2-0.3 in.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, glossy olive-green leaves that 2-3 in. in length. These small leaves have a single terminal spine at the apex, although occasionally two lateral spines will develop. These leaves are elliptic to oblong, coriaceaous, and bullate (appearing blistered). Margins are usually smooth.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
