Ilex cornuta furcata (Chinese or Horned Holly)

A slow growing and dense shrub to small tree which can grow to roughly 3m. The distinctive leaves have pronounced spines which are rather hornlike. Their red berries are borne on female plants and are abundant, long-lasting and a fair bit larger than those of the European holly.

Our specimens are multi-stemmed with raised crowns and a neat, spheroid shape which are perfect for introducing some elevated glossy texture into your garden design. The foliage is distinctly rectangular and has a precise architecture all of its own. As these are evergreen we use them for winter structure among mixed plantings of deciduous shrubs and to add some spiky gloss and shine to a varied composition of fuzzy stuff, like conifers. Their deep dense mass of foliage looks spectacular against colourful stuff too, like a golden-stemmed bamboo for example. Their slow growing habit only requires a brief snip and tidy from time to time, making Chinese Holly a bold and shapely choice for your garden but without being in any way high-maintenance.

Native to central and south-eastern parts China, Hainan and Korea, Horned Holly is best grown in full sun to partial shade. It’s happy on most free draining soils, too.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.

ase of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.