Ilex cornuta Needlepoint (Chinese Holly)

Noted for its heat and drought tolerance, Ilex cornuta 'Needlepoint' (Chinese Holly) is a pyramidal evergreen shrub or tree with a lustrous foliage of alternate, simple, dark green leaves, which holds all year. The leathery, slightly twisted leaves feature a large spine at their tips. Inconspicuous fragrant white flowers appear in spring. They attract bees and pollinating insects. The pollinated flowers give way to a heavy crop of bright red berries which ripen in fall and persist into winter. Birds feast on them. Ilex cornuta 'Needlepoint' responds very well to shearing, which enables it to be used in a numerous variety of different landscape applications. It is perfect for screening, massing or grouping.

• Grows up to 15-20 ft. tall (450-600 cm) and 10-20 ft. wide (300-600 cm).
• A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Shelter from cold winter winds. Drought and heat tolerant. Moderately salt tolerant too
• Perfect as a specimen plant, foundation plantings, hedges or screens, banks and slopes, coastal gardens, cottage gardens.
• Keep an eye out for holly leaf miner, spider mites, whitefly, scale, leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot and powdery mildew. Chinese Holly is also susceptible to leaf drop, leaf scorch and chlorosis. Deer resistant.
• Prune in the late winter to control its size if needed.
• Propagate by stem cuttings.
• Ilex cornuta species is native to China, Korea.
• Find where this species is invasive in the United States.