Ilex cornuta
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks kor-NOO-tuh
- Description
-
Chinese Holly is a holly from Asia that can be grown as a hedge up to 15 ft tall or trained to be a small tree up to 25 feet tall. The unusual rectangular leaves resemble bull horns. This holly is tolerant of most soils except poorly-drained ones and can be grown in full to partial sun. It is tolerant of heat and humidity and is drought tolerant once established making it a good choice for the south. Prune in the late winter to control its size if needed. A male plant is needed for female plants to produce berries.
The spiny leaves make this a good choice for a barrier or privacy screen or use as a hedge.
It has escaped cultivation and has naturalized in some states including NC.
Quick ID Hints:
- Spiny, coriaceous leaves.
- Leaf apex spinose and pointing downward.
- Lateral spines near leaf apex resemble bull horns.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Woodland Backyard Garden Walk
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Burford'
- 'Burfordii Nana'
- 'Convexa'
Doesn't need pollinated to set fruit
More compact
Yellow-fruited 'Dwarf Burford'
Small broadleaf evergreen 'Needlepoint'
Grows to form a thick, impenetrable hedge 'O'Spring'
Yellow margin variegated leaves have a silvery-green center 'Rotunda'
Dwarf - 'Burfordii Nana'
- 'Burford', 'Burfordii Nana', 'Carissa', 'Convexa', 'D'Or', 'Dwarf Burford', 'Needlepoint', 'O'Spring', 'Rotunda'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Burford'
- 'Burfordii Nana'
- 'Convexa'
Doesn't need pollinated to set fruit
More compact
Yellow-fruited 'Dwarf Burford'
Small broadleaf evergreen 'Needlepoint'
Grows to form a thick, impenetrable hedge 'O'Spring'
Yellow margin variegated leaves have a silvery-green center 'Rotunda'
Dwarf - 'Burfordii Nana'
- 'Burford', 'Burfordii Nana', 'Carissa', 'Convexa', 'D'Or', 'Dwarf Burford', 'Needlepoint', 'O'Spring', 'Rotunda'
- Tags:
-
-
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. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant 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)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/3 inch fruits are bright to dull-red and berry-like. They are produced on female plants. Fruits persist into winter.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, 4-parted, radial, axillary, dull-white flowers in spring that are 0.2-0.3 in. Male and female flowers are on different plants (dioecious). Fragrant but not showy.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- 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, 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. Leaves have minute, dark, and triangular stipules.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth gray bark becoming finely flakey with size.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender, green stems turning reddish-green in the winter, buds small, leaf scar with 1 bundle scar. Branchlets are dense.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
