Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta 'Delcon')
Ilex cornuta 'Delcon' is a robust broadleaf evergreen Chinese holly, noted for its distinctive foliage and enduring red winter berries.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’, often referred to as Chinese holly, is a standout broadleaf evergreen shrub valued for its architectural shape and year-round foliage interest. This cultivar provides excellent structure in the landscape, maturing into dense shrubs perfect for screening. Its distinctive, glossy, dark green leaves and, on female plants, persistent red berries offer crucial color contrast during dormant months.
Native to China and Korea, Chinese holly, including the ‘Delcon’ variety, thrives where winters are mild, performing best in USDA Zones 7 through 9. It is valued in hotter, humid climates of the deep South because of its inherent tolerance for both heat and periods of drought once established. Gardeners often select Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ for permanent hedges or as strong specimen plantings.
While the flowers are generally inconspicuous, the resulting fruit display is truly showy, attracting birds and adding significant winter appeal. Successful cultivation of the female ‘Delcon’ usually requires the presence of a compatible male pollinator nearby to ensure a heavy berry set. Proper siting away from harsh winter winds maximizes the health and performance of this excellent evergreen.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Aquifoliaceae
- Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 7-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 8-10 ft
- Spread: 8-10 ft
- Bloom Time: May
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ is best done in spring or early fall, allowing the root system time to establish before facing temperature extremes. Choose a location that offers well-drained soil, as this holly actively dislikes poorly drained conditions which lead to root issues. While it handles full sun, providing part afternoon shade, especially in hotter summer climates, prevents leaf scorch.
Care involves maintaining average, medium moisture levels, particularly during establishment; utilize supplemental watering during dry spells, leveraging its drought tolerance once mature. Pruning for shape or size is best scheduled for winter when the plant is dormant. Remember that ‘Delcon’ is female, so if you desire the characteristic red fruit, ensure a male Chinese holly pollinator is planted within range, though some parthenocarpic fruiting may occur without one.
Winter protection is crucial, especially nearer the hardiness zone limits. In marginal areas, site the plant on the south side of a structure to benefit from reflected warmth, and apply a generous layer of winter mulch around the root zone. Avoid high pH soils which can trigger chlorosis, manifesting as yellowing leaves.
Landscape Uses
The Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ offers excellent year-round structure, making it highly effective when used for foundation plantings immediately surrounding residential or commercial buildings. Its predictable 8 to 10-foot mature size fits well beneath overhead windows or as taller accents closer to corners. For formal garden designs, planting multiple Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ specimens in a row creates an effective, dense, evergreen hedge that screens views and buffers sound.
When used as a specimen, allow it ample space to develop its natural rounded shrub form, perhaps contrasting its dark, glossy foliage with lighter-colored perennials or deciduous shrubs nearby. The persistent red berries provide excellent winter interest, ensuring that even when other deciduous plants are bare, this planting retains strong visual appeal. Utilize its deep green color as a reliable backdrop for seasonal color displays.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Insignificant
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Ilex cornuta, commonly called Chinese holly, provides visually striking foliage characterized by unusually shaped rectangular leaves up to 4 inches long, often featuring spines only at the apex. The specific cultivar, ‘Delcon’, is a female plant typically grown as a dense shrub reaching 10 feet tall, featuring elliptic leaves that are somewhat thin and twisted. Pollinated flowers yield small, red, berry-like drupes that ripen in the fall, persisting well into the winter landscape for sustained visual interest.
Tolerances
- Drought
Potential Problems
Potential insect issues associated with Chinese holly include scale insects, whiteflies, and spider mites, which can diminish the plant’s aesthetic appeal. Fungal diseases like leaf spot, tar spot, and powdery mildew can develop, especially in areas with poor air circulation or excessive moisture. Good horticultural practice involves monitoring foliage regularly for early signs of pests or disease and maintaining clean conditions beneath the shrub.
Management often begins with preventive cultural care, ensuring proper sun exposure and avoiding poorly drained soils to minimize stress. For persistent pest infestations, targeted dormant oil applications or specific insecticidal sprays may be necessary, depending on the pest identified. Be mindful that Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ is susceptible to leaf scorch and chlorosis in extremely alkaline soils.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Chinese holly suitable for?
The Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ is reliably winter hardy in USDA Zones 7 through 9.
How large does Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ grow?
This broadleaf evergreen typically reaches a height and spread between 8 and 10 feet at maturity.
What sun exposure does Chinese holly need?
Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ performs best when situated in full sun to part shade locations.
When does Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ bloom?
The small, white flowers of this Chinese holly typically appear in May.
Conclusion
The Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ offers gardeners an exceptionally dependable, dense, broadleaf evergreen screen or specimen plant, prized for its rugged texture and vibrant winter berries. Successfully growing this Chinese holly relies on ensuring well-drained soil and adequate pollination for the best fruit display. Before purchasing, confirm that your landscape falls within USDA Zones 7-9 and plan your planting during the cooler seasons for best establishment.
Companion Planting
When positioning Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’ in the landscape, pair it with plants that share similar cultural needs concerning moisture and sun exposure. Consider utilizing deciduous plants with contrasting fall color, such as Japanese maples (Acer palmatum cultivars) sited nearby, to highlight the glossy evergreen texture of the holly in autumn. For year-round groundcover beneath the shrub canopy, low-growing shade-tolerant perennials like Lenten Rose (Helleborus) or various ferns work well, especially if the holly is sited where it receives afternoon shade.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is an excellent time to apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer if needed, and to generally clean up any winter detritus around the base of your Ilex cornuta ‘Delcon’. Summer care focuses primarily on checking soil moisture; supplement watering during prolonged dry spells to maintain medium soil moisture, acknowledging its drought tolerance but optimizing growth. Winter is the ideal time for any structural pruning required, and where frost is a concern, ensure a healthy layer of winter mulch is in place.
