Ilex cornuta
Common Name(s):
- Description
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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.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- Tags:
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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.
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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
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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:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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:
- 1/3 inch fruits are bright to dull-red and berry-like. They are produced on female plants. Fruits persist into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- 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). Fragrant but not showy.
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Leaves:
- 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, 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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth gray bark becoming finely flakey with size.
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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.
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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
