Chinese Holly Data Sheet

• Common name: Chinese holly

• Latin name: Ilex Cornuta

• Genus: Ilex

• Height: 3 m (16 ft)

• Type: Evergreen

• Hardiness: Zone 7–9

• Conservation status: Least concern

Ilex cornuta, commonly known as Chinese holly or horned holly, is a broad leaf evergreen shrub native to China and Korea.

Chinese holly is 3 m (15 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter up to 23 cm (9 in).. The leaves/needles are 5-spined, oblong, 3–10 cm long, and dark green. Dull white flowers appear in April. The fruit are large, red berries, 8–10mm in diameter, and they attract birds.

It can live up to 50 years.

Chinese holly is valued for its attractive, rectangular foliage and for its large, red berries. It works well as a hedge, and the fruit and foliage provide good colour.

Pre Germination

These seeds need plenty of time to overcome their natural dormancy. For best results fill a Zip Loc bag with moist light draining type compost, mix in the seed and seal. Leave in a shaded position outdoors in the summer. In October, place the bag in a refrigerator between 2 and 6°C. Check weekly; if seedlings begin to emerge in the bag, remove them and carefully pot them. At the beginning of March fill trays or pots with quality compost and firm down gently. Spread the remaining seeds  across the surface; around 25 in a 10 cm pot is ideal. Cover seeds with 3 mm of compost and gently firm down.

Keep compost damp, not soaking wet or dried out. Place pots or trays on a warm windowsill or in a warm conservatory. Germination can take 30–90 weeks so hang in there.

Post Germination

Keep seedlings in a bright, well-ventilated area such as a windowsill to avoid damping off disease. Ensure seedlings never dry out. or become waterlogged. These seedlings are robust and will give you little hassle. They can be separated into 4" pots at 15–20 weeks; by this stage they are frost hardy and can stay outside. Fertilization is not required up to this point. During spring and summer we advise using an NPK 10-10-10 fertilizer every 4 weeks.

CAUTION: Slugs and snails love tender young holly saplings.

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