Chinese Holly Seeds – 10 Ilex Cornuta Evergreen Shrub Seeds for Planting

Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub prized for its glossy, spiny foliage and bright red berries. This versatile holly brings year-round structure to the landscape, serving beautifully as a hedge, foundation planting, or specimen shrub. Its dense growth habit and attractive leaves make it a favorite for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance, deer-resistant evergreen.

Chinese Holly is adaptable and tolerant of a range of conditions, thriving in full sun to partial shade. It responds well to pruning and can be shaped into formal hedges or left to grow naturally. The seeds offered here allow you to grow this classic shrub from scratch, an economical way to add multiple plants to your landscape.

Plant Features

• Broadleaf evergreen shrub with glossy, spiny green leaves
• Produces bright red berries on female plants when a male pollinator is present
• Dense, upright growth habit ideal for hedges, screens, and foundation plantings
• Tolerant of deer, drought, and a range of soil types once established
• Provides year-round interest and habitat for birds

Growing Information

• Botanical Name: Ilex cornuta
• Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil
• Water Requirements: Moderate; keep soil moist but not waterlogged
• Growth Habit: Upright, dense, rounded
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9
• Bloom Season: Spring (inconspicuous flowers)
• Mature Height: 6 to 10 feet
• Spacing: 4 to 6 feet apart for hedges

Planting & Care

To grow Chinese Holly from seed, start by stratifying the seeds to improve germination. Place seeds in a moist medium and refrigerate for 2 to 3 months before sowing. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep in a well-draining seed-starting mix. Keep the medium consistently moist and maintain a temperature around 65-70°F. Germination can be slow and irregular, often taking several months.

Once seedlings have developed several sets of true leaves, transplant them into individual pots and grow them on until they are large enough to plant outdoors. Acclimate young plants gradually to outdoor conditions before transplanting into the garden. Choose a site with well-drained soil and space plants according to their mature size. Water regularly during the first growing season to help establish a deep root system. Mulch around the base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

What's Included

This listing includes 10 Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta) seeds.