Burford Holly Shrub

Burford Holly Shrub

The standard Burford holly will grow at least 15 to 20 feet high and wide, and if the lower limbs are removed, it will make an attractive small tree. The dwarf form, which is what I have, will be smaller, 6 to 10 feet in height and width. Note that the dwarf form is still a large shrub.

Where is the best place to plant holly bushes?

Holly bushes do best in well-drained, moderately acidic soil, in full sun. They don’t like to be transplanted, so think carefully about where you’ll plant.

How do you trim Burford holly?

Trim the holly’s stems with pruning shears or an electric trimmer to shorten them in the event you want to reduce the plant’s height or width. You can remove one-third to one-half of the plant in order to control its size. Trim the stems by running the shears or trimmer straight across the top of the plant.

How do I identify a Burford holly?

Burford Holly is a dense evergreen shrub or small tree. The glossy dark green leaves are simple, alternate, elliptic, and two to four inches long. They are cupped downward, with a sharp point at the tip. The leaves have a leathery or tough texture, and occasionally have two lateral spines.

Is Burford holly fast growing?

Burford Holly is fast growing, dense, and, because it tolerates severe pruning, can be trimmed to form a rounded large shrub, small tree (when lower branches are removed), or hedge. Pruning should be done in late winter. Burford holly grows to 15′ tall. It has revolute leaves with only one apical spine.

What does a Burford holly look like?

Burford Holly Appearance

Both varieties feature yellow-green stems and glossy green leaves and are bullate, which means they appear blistered. Like many holly plants, they have spines. These varieties have one or two spines at the end of the leaf and do not have spines on the sides of the leaves.

Do holly bushes grow fast?

Once established, holly bushes grow at a slow to medium rate. You can expect to see height increases of between 12 and 24 inches per year.

What can I plant next to holly?

A few common holly companions for planting next to the shrubs include boxwood, viburnum, clematis, hydrangea, and rhododendrons.

Will Dwarf Burford holly grow in shade?

Dwarf Burford holly is an upright evergreen shrub that grows to 5 feet tall. It rarely requires pruning because of its dense disciplined growth habit. The leaves are a dark green. It also does well in sun or light shade.

Can you shape a Burford holly?

To encourage thick growth and the shape you want for your Burford holly, some retraining is needed as the plant grows. Trimming the growing tip of each shoot by 1 to 6 inches each time it grows a foot over two years of regrowth encourages a bushier plant overall.

How tall do dwarf Burford hollies get?

The full-size Burford holly grows up to 10-12 feet tall over time, and can be easily confused with the dwarf variety at the nursery or garden center. On the other hand, it is not unusual for a dwarf Burford holly to grow 6 feet tall.

Is Dwarf Burford holly deer resistant?

Beyond its beautiful evergreen foliage, this shrub has beautiful red berries on it in the winter and serves as a source of food for birds. Deer resistant leaves have three spines on the tip and are best used as a hedge or in groups. Heat and drought tolerant, this shrub is a fantastic selection for your landscape.

What is Dwarf Burford holly?

Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’

Compact grower is a miniature version of one of the most popular hollies. Prolific bearer of large, bright red berries without a pollenizer present, though heavier with a pollenizer. Evergreen hedge or border specimen.

How do you take care of a Dwarf Burford holly?

Dwarf Burford Holly ‘Dwarf Burford’ (Ilex cornuta)
Plant Feed. Fertilize regularly for best display.Watering. Water 2 – 3 times per week until established.Soil. Fertile, well-drained soil.Basic Care Summary. Adapts to most soil types. Prune to maintain desired shape.

Is Dwarf Burford holly an evergreen?

The versatile Dwarf Burford Holly hedge is a formidable evergreen shrub for the landscape.

What is the smallest holly shrub?

The Chinese dwarf holly (Ilex cornuta ‘Rotunda’) is a small, compact shrub with recognizable spiny leaves. This dwarf holly tree is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 to 9 and only reaches a height of up to 6 feet.

How much is a Burford holly?

Burford Holly ShrubIlex cornuta ‘Burfordii’ $79.95.

James H. Sterling
Author

James H. Sterling

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.