Ilex cornuta

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Ilex

  Species:

  cornuta

  Family:

  Aquifoliaceae

  Life Cycle:

  Woody

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Seed

  Stem Cutting

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Eastern China, Korea

  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

  Sound

  Wildlife Food Source

  Wind Break

  Dimensions:

  Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Shrub

  Tree

  Leaf Characteristics:

  Broadleaf Evergreen

  Habit/Form:

  Dense

  Erect

  Rounded

  Growth Rate:

  Medium

  Maintenance:

  Medium

  Texture:

  Medium

  Appendage:

  Spines

• 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

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Mountains

  Piedmont

  Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:

  7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

• 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:

  Fruits are bright to dull-red and berry-like. They drupe on female plants. Fruits persist into winter.

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  White

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Petals:

  4-5 petals/rays

  Flower Size:

  < 1 inch

  Flower Description:

  Small, axillary, dull white flowers in spring that are 0.2-0.3 in. Male and female flowers are on different plants (dioecious).

• Leaves:

  Leaf Characteristics:

  Broadleaf Evergreen

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  Leaf Feel:

  Glossy

  Leathery

  Prickly

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Alternate

  Leaf Shape:

  Oblong

  Hairs Present:

  No

  Leaf Length:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Width:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Description:

  Alternate, coriaceous, simple, dark glossy green leaves above, yellow-green below. Leaves are 1.5-4 in. long, are oblong-rectangular, and have a varying number of marginal spines. Leaves have three strong spines on the apex and one or two spines at the base that can resemble bull horns. The apex is spinose, points downward, and terminates in a spine. There is typically a spine at each corner of the rectangle, plus one on the downward curving middle leaf. Leaves have minute, dark, and triangular stipules.

• Bark:

  Bark Color:

  Light Gray

  Surface/Attachment:

  Smooth

  Bark Description:

  Smooth gray

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Gray/Silver

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Lawn

  Landscape Theme:

  Drought Tolerant Garden

  Pollinator Garden

  Rock Garden

  Winter Garden

  Design Feature:

  Hedge

  Specimen

  Attracts:

  Bees

  Pollinators

  Songbirds

  Specialized Bees

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Deer

  Drought

  Heat