Burford Holly Live Plant – Evergreen Shrub, 1 Quart Pot, Outdoor

Overview

Introduce lasting beauty and structure to your garden with the resilient Burford Holly live plant. This distinguished evergreen holly plant, scientifically known as Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’, is celebrated for its dense, glossy foliage and abundant red berries. Perfect for creating elegant hedges, privacy screens, or as a striking standalone specimen, the Burford Holly live plant adds year-round interest and a touch of classic charm to any landscape. Growing up to 8 feet tall with a similar spread, and potentially reaching up to 25 feet under optimal conditions, this plant is a robust addition, thriving in a variety of settings across USDA Zones 6-9. Its distinct rectangular leaves with 4-5 spines provide a unique texture, while the vibrant red berries ripen in early fall, offering a beautiful contrast against the deep green leaves and attracting local wildlife.

The Burford Holly live plant is a broadleaf evergreen, meaning it retains its lush green leaves throughout the year, providing consistent color even in colder months. Its ability to adapt to different soil types and its general hardiness make it a favorite among gardeners seeking a low-maintenance yet impactful plant. Whether you’re designing a formal garden or a more naturalistic setting, the Burford Holly live plant offers versatility and enduring appeal. The plant you receive will be a healthy specimen, ready to establish itself and begin its journey of enhancing your outdoor living space.

Key Benefits

Choosing a Burford Holly live plant for your garden offers numerous advantages, from its aesthetic appeal to its ease of maintenance. This robust shrub is a fantastic investment for long-term landscape enhancement, providing consistent beauty and functionality.

• Year-Round Visual Appeal: The glossy, dark green leaves of the Burford Holly live plant provide consistent color and texture throughout all seasons. Even in winter, when many plants are dormant, this evergreen maintains its vibrant foliage, ensuring your garden always looks alive and well-tended.
• Attractive Red Berries: In early fall, the plant produces abundant bright red berries that persist through winter, offering a stunning visual display. These berries not only add a festive touch but also serve as a valuable food source for birds, enhancing local biodiversity.
• Excellent for Hedges and Screens: With its dense growth habit and ability to be pruned, the Burford Holly live plant is an ideal candidate for creating formal hedges, privacy screens, or windbreaks. Its robust nature ensures a strong, impenetrable barrier, offering both beauty and utility.
• Low Maintenance & Drought Tolerant: Once established, Burford Holly care is relatively simple. It is known for its hardiness and drought tolerance, requiring less frequent watering compared to many other shrubs, making it a sustainable choice for busy gardeners. This makes it an excellent drought tolerant shrub.
• Adaptable to Various Soils: This shrub is quite forgiving when it comes to soil conditions, thriving in a range of soil types as long as they are well-draining. This adaptability makes planting easier and reduces the need for extensive soil amendments.
• Hardy in USDA Zones 6-9: The Ilex cornuta Burfordii is well-suited for a wide range of climates, tolerating both heat and cold within its specified hardiness zones. This resilience ensures it will flourish in many regions of the United States.
• Fragrant White Flowers: While subtle, the small, dull white flowers that bloom in early spring possess a delicate fragrance, adding another layer of sensory enjoyment to your garden space before the berries appear.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper Burford Holly care ensures a healthy and thriving plant that will provide beauty for years. This evergreen holly plant is relatively low-maintenance, but understanding its basic needs will help it reach its full potential. The Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’ prefers a location with full sun to partial shade. For the best berry production and densest foliage, aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate some shade, too much shade may result in sparser growth and fewer berries. When planting, ensure the soil is well-draining. This drought tolerant shrub is adaptable to various soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, but it does not tolerate consistently wet or waterlogged conditions. Amending heavy clay soils with organic matter can improve drainage.

Watering should be consistent during the first year after planting to help establish a strong root system. Once established, the Burford Holly live plant becomes quite drought-tolerant, only requiring supplemental watering during extended dry periods. A good rule of thumb is to water deeply when the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for evergreen shrubs. Follow the product instructions for application rates. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This helps maintain its shape, control size, and remove any dead or damaged branches. Regular pruning can also encourage denser growth, making it an excellent choice for a hedge or screen. This particular evergreen holly plant is dioecious, meaning individual plants are either male or female. For the production of red berries, both a male and female plant must be present in proximity for pollination.

This drought tolerant shrub is generally resistant to most pests and diseases, making Burford Holly care less demanding. However, watch out for common issues like scale insects or leaf miners, especially in stressed plants. Good air circulation and proper watering practices can prevent many problems. The plant’s bark is initially smooth and light gray, developing a finely flaky appearance with age. The stems can vary from green to a reddish-burgundy hue, especially during the winter months, adding another layer of visual interest to this adaptable plant. Knowing these tips will help your Burford Holly live plant flourish.

Size & Details

This offering is for one Burford Holly live plant, delivered in a 1 quart sized pot. At the time of purchase, the plant will be a young, healthy specimen, typically standing several inches tall, ready for planting and establishment in your garden. The exact height will vary depending on the season and growth stage, but it will be well-rooted and vigorous. The Ilex cornuta Burfordii is known for its moderate to fast growth rate, quickly establishing itself in the landscape.

When mature, Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’ can reach an impressive height of 6-8 feet and a similar spread, though some specimens have been recorded growing up to 25 feet tall under ideal conditions over many years. It forms a dense, upright, and somewhat rounded shrub, making it versatile for various landscape applications. The plant will arrive as a potted specimen, helping to minimize transplant shock and ensuring a smoother transition to its new home. Expect the plant to begin showing significant new growth and berry production once it has settled into its permanent location, typically within its first year or two.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Burford Holly live plant get? A: A mature Burford Holly live plant typically grows 6-8 feet tall and wide, forming a dense, rounded shrub. Under optimal conditions, some specimens can eventually reach up to 25 feet in height over many years.
• Q: What size pot does this evergreen holly plant come in? A: This Burford Holly live plant is shipped in a 1 quart sized nursery pot, providing a good root ball for successful transplanting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Burford Holly live plant is an outdoor shrub, best suited for landscape planting. It thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9 and is not typically grown as an indoor houseplant.
• Q: How much sunlight does the Ilex cornuta Burfordii need? A: For best growth and berry production, the Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’ prefers full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily) but can tolerate partial shade.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, Burford Holly care is considered relatively easy. Once established, it is a low-maintenance shrub that is drought-tolerant and generally resistant to pests and diseases, making it a great choice even for beginner gardeners. It is a true drought tolerant shrub.
• Q: What condition will the Burford Holly live plant arrive in? A: Your Burford Holly live plant will arrive as a healthy, well-rooted specimen in its quart pot, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey.
• Q: When is the best time to plant a Burford Holly live plant? A: The best time to plant Burford Holly is in spring or early fall, allowing the plant sufficient time to establish its root system before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Burford Holly live plant is hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 9, meaning it can withstand winter temperatures down to -10°F (-23°C) when properly established.
• Q: Does this holly produce berries? A: Yes, Burford Holly produces attractive red berries that ripen in early fall and persist through winter. For berries to form, both a male and female plant must be present nearby for pollination, as this is a dioecious species.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this evergreen holly plant can tolerate? A: Burford Holly can tolerate winter temperatures down to -10°F (-23°C), aligning with its hardiness in USDA Zone 6.