Chinese Holly

(Ilex cornuta)

Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta)

Robert Flogaus-Faust

CC BY 4.0

Image By: Robert Flogaus-Faust

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Robert Flogaus-Faust | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 | Uploader: Robert Flogaus-Faust | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Ilex_cornuta_3_RF.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description ={{en|1=Location taken: the United States National Arboretum, Washington D.C.. Names: Ilex cornuta 'Dwarf Burford' , Dwarf Burford Chinese Holl Classification: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Spermatopsida > Aquifoli... |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Ilex cornuta, commonly known as Chinese Holly or Horned Holly, is a slow-growing, evergreen shrub native to the forest edges and scrublands of China and Korea. It is a broadleaf shrub that typically grows up to 2.5 meters (8 ft) tall and wide, with a dense, compact form. In early spring, it produces small, fragrant, dull white flowers, which are either male or female as the plant is dioecious. These flowers give way to bright red berries that ripen in early fall, attracting a variety of wildlife, including bees, other pollinators, and songbirds.

Chinese Holly is valued in cultivation for its winter interest, drought tolerance, and use as a barrier or privacy hedge. It thrives in full sun to part shade, with medium water requirements, and prefers well-drained soils. However, its spines can be a nuisance in some landscapes. It is also known to be invasive outside its native range, particularly in parts of the United States, and should be grown with caution.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrubs, Trees
Height: 8-10 feet
Width: 8-15 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Fast, Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Hedges, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

It will tolerate a wide variety of soils and will grow in sun or shade. It can be grown in partial and full sun and is tolerant of the heat and humidity. The shrub can be found between 150 and 600 meters elevation and along mountain ridges that have full sun

Other Names

Common Names: Horned Holly , Chinesische Stechpalme , Houx , 호랑가시나무

Scientific Names: Ilex cornuta , Ilex cornuta var. burfordii , Ilex cornuta f. burfordii , Ilex burfordii , Ilex fortunei , Ilex cornuta f. gaetana , Ilex cornuta f. multicrenata , Ilex cornuta subsp. multicrenata , Ilex cornuta var. fortunei , Ilex crenata var. multicrenata , Ilex furcata

GBIF Accepted Name: Ilex cornuta Lindl. & Paxton