Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta 'Dwarf Burford')

Overview

The Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’, commonly known as Chinese holly, is a highly valued broadleaf evergreen prized for providing texture and color throughout the year, especially during winter. This cultivar offers a significantly shorter profile compared to its relatives, making it an excellent specimen or foundation planting where space is limited. Gardeners rely on its rich, dark green foliage and persistent red fruit for reliable winter interest.

Distinctively, the leaves of the Chinese holly are rectangular and armed with sharp spines, a trait softened slightly in the ‘Dwarf Burford’ variety which features smaller leaves. It thrives best in the milder climates of USDA Zones 7 through 9, offering good tolerance to heat and brief periods of drought once established. Its ultimate size makes the Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’ a practical choice for structured landscape barriers.

While the small, dull white flowers in May are not overly showy, they lead to abundant, attractive red drupes. Because female ‘Dwarf Burford’ plants are parthenocarpic, they produce fruit without the need for a nearby male pollinator, simplifying landscape design. This reliable fruiting habit firmly establishes the value of the Chinese holly in formal and informal settings.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Aquifoliaceae
• Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 7-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 6-8 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 should occur in late winter or early spring, allowing the Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’ ample time to establish roots before summer heat. Site this Chinese holly in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Full sun is acceptable, but excellent performance, especially in hot summer climates, often requires protection from intense afternoon shade. Avoid poorly drained areas, as these conditions can promote root issues.

Once established, this holly requires medium water inputs, appreciating consistency but tolerating short dry spells. Maintenance for this shrub is moderate; pruning is necessary only in the winter if specific shaping is required to maintain its form as a hedge or specimen. Fertilization should primarily focus on promoting dense, healthy foliage if growth seems slow, though hungry plants are not typical.

For gardeners in marginal zones, particularly those experiencing freezing weather like the St. Louis area, careful siting is crucial. Protect the Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’ from harsh winter winds and consider applying a heavy winter mulch around the base. This extra protection aids winter hardiness, ensuring the desirable evergreen structure endures until spring. This plant is highly valued in the deep South for its inherent heat tolerance.

Landscape Uses

The ‘Dwarf Burford’ cultivar excels where a dense, formally shaped screen or border is needed. As an excellent choice for foundation plantings, its manageable height of 6 to 8 feet prevents it from overwhelming structures, while its consistent evergreen nature keeps the view appealing year-round. Its use as a hedge is common, providing a spiny, colorful boundary.

Beyond hedging, this Chinese holly works beautifully when placed as a specimen plant to anchor a corner of the garden, especially where its red fruit can contrast against darker hardscape elements or adjacent green shrubs. For companion planting, pair it with broadleaf evergreens that offer different textural qualities, such as broad-leafed Rhododendrons or glossy Camellias, ensuring all share similar well-drained soil and exposure preferences. The combination of its dark foliage and persistent fruit provides excellent architectural interest throughout the dormant season.

Standout Features

Fruit Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Ilex cornuta, commonly called Chinese holly, is native to China and Korea. It has naturalized from garden plantings in North Carolina and Alabama. It is a broadleaf evergreen that typically grows as a shrub to 8-10’ tall, but may be trained as a small tree to as much as 25’ tall. Unusually shaped rectangular leaves (to 4” long) have three large spines at the apex. Dull white flowers appear in May. Flowers are fragrant but generally inconspicuous. Pollinated flowers give way to berry-like red drupes (1/3” long) which ripen in fall and persist into winter. Birds are attracted to the fruit.Genus name comes from the Latin name Quercus ilex for holm oak in reference to the foliage similarities (holm oak and many of the shrubs in the genus Ilex have evergreen leaves).Specific epithet means horn or horn-shaped.‘Burfordii’, commonly called Burford holly, grows to 15’ tall. It has revolute leaves with only one apical spine. It is noted for heavy fruit set. Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’ (aka ‘Burfordii Nana’) is very similar to ‘Burfordii’, except it grows much shorter (to only 6-8’ tall), has smaller leaves (to 2” long) and sports darker foliage color.

Tolerances

• Winter hardiness challenges in northern zones, requiring specific siting.
• Heat and periods of drought tolerance in suitable zones.

Potential Problems

Potential insect problems include holly leaf miner, spider mites, whitefly and scale. Addressing infestations early is key; regular monitoring, especially of the undersides of leaves, allows for prompt treatment using horticultural oils or appropriate insecticides for scale and mites. Disease concerns range from leaf spot and tar spot to root rot, often exacerbated by poorly drained soils or overly wet conditions. To manage potential chlorosis (yellowing leaves), ensure soil pH is slightly acidic, as high pH soils inhibit iron uptake. Winter hardiness remains a significant limitation outside Zone 7; gardeners in colder regions must provide maximum winter protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Chinese holly suitable for?

The Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 7 through 9.

How large does Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’ grow?

This cultivar typically reaches a mature height between 6 and 8 feet, with a spread ranging from 8 to 10 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Chinese holly need?

It performs well in full sun but benefits significantly from part shade, particularly protection from harsh afternoon sun in hot climates.

When does Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’ bloom?

The shrub produces dull white flowers during May, which offer a light fragrance.

Conclusion

The Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’ stands out as an indispensable mid-sized evergreen, providing essential year-round structure, attractive red fruit, and good drought tolerance once matured in warm settings. Its manageable size makes it superior for foundation plantings and hedges when compared to larger holly varieties. Before planting, confirm your location falls within USDA Zones 7-9 to ensure this outstanding Chinese holly thrives.

Companion Planting

When selecting neighbors for your Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’, focus on plants that appreciate similar sun exposure (full sun to part shade) and excellent drainage. Consider pairing it with plants that offer textural contrast to highlight the holly’s glossy, spiny leaves. Evergreen azaleas and camellias are excellent companions, as they share cultural needs but provide softer, broader foliage.

For seasonal color contrast, spring-blooming bulbs or summer perennials with fine, airy foliage, like certain ornamental grasses or ferns, can soften the structure around the base of the Chinese holly hedge. Ensure that any companion roots do not excessively compete for moisture and nutrients near the base, as establishing even moisture is important for healthy growth.

Wildlife Benefits

While the flowers of the Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’ are small, they provide nectar for early-season pollinators when they bloom in May. More significantly, the bright red drupes that follow are an important food source for various bird species throughout late fall and into the winter months.

Planting the ‘Dwarf Burford’ strategically can create sheltered cover for small birds during harsh weather, thanks to its dense, evergreen habit. Although the spiny leaves deter browsing mammals, the fruit remains accessible to avian visitors, increasing the biodiversity supported by your landscape feature.