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Ilex cornuta

Chinese Holly

Pronunciation
I-leks core-NEW-ta
Pronunciation Audio
Family
Genus
Nativity

China, Korea

Growth Habit

Medium sized, dense rounded shrub.

Hardiness
7
Culture

Full sun, in moist, well-drained soils. Is grown extensively in the south and shows good heat and drought tolerance. A tough, durable plant.

Facultative Status
Tolerant of most soil conditions
Landscape Use

Depending on the cultivar used the plant can serve as a groundcover, low massing plant, hedge, screen and specimen small tree. A bird-attracting plant. Fruiting is best maintained if both the male and the female plant are located near each other.

Foliage

Alternate, oblong-rectangular, typically spined margin.

Bark

Young stems are consistently a yellow green color. Mature bark is an attractive silver gray color.

Flower

Dioecious, creamy white, quite fragrant.

Fruit

Drupe, orange-red to red in color, .25 to .33 inches

Propagation

Cuttings taken any time of the year will root if treated with 1000-3000 ppm IBA quick dip, place in peat:perlite and mist. Bottom heat is also helpful.

Pests
Scale can be problematic and a variety of minor insect and diseases can affect the plant. In general quite durable.
Cultivars

'Burfordii' - 20 to 25 feet tall, leaves with a single terminal spine.

'Carissa' - 3 to 4 feet compact plant with a single terminal spine.

'Dwarf Burford' - 5 to 8 feet compact shrub.

'Rotunda' - 3 to 4 feet tall, with leaves typical of the species.

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