Dwarf Burford Holly

Light Needs

Part Shade to Full Sun

(3+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

3-6 Feet

Mature Spread

4-6 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 9

Dwarf Burford Holly packs glossy evergreen foliage and bright red winter berries into a dense, rounded shrub. Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana' grows about 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, with dark green leaves that keep their color through the cold season. Small white spring flowers are fragrant but subtle, becoming red berries that birds often visit in fall and winter. It is a good fit for foundation beds because it looks full, polished, and colorful after summer flowers are gone.

This compact Chinese holly is a female cultivar that can set fruit without a separate male pollinator. It handles heat, coastal conditions, deer browsing, rabbits, and dry periods once established. Dwarf Burford Holly has a naturally dense habit that can be left rounded or clipped into a more formal hedge. Plant it as an evergreen screen, foundation shrub, specimen, property-line hedge, mass planting, or winter-interest accent near patios and entries.

Dwarf Burford Holly Care

Plant Dwarf Burford Holly in full sun to partial shade, with afternoon shade useful in very hot climates. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil and should not sit in poorly drained sites. Slightly acidic soil is preferred, though this holly adapts to clay, loam, sand, and average garden soil when drainage is good.

Water deeply after planting, followed by water a couple of times per week during the first few months as roots establish. Established plants need watering mainly during extended heat or drought, especially in sandy soil. Fertilize in spring with a slow-release fertilizer for broadleaf evergreens or acid-loving shrubs. Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep to conserve moisture and protect roots, keeping mulch away from the trunk.

Prune Dwarf Burford Holly in late winter before new spring growth begins. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches first; shear lightly for a hedge or tighter rounded shape. Wear gloves when pruning because the leaves have a spine at the tip, and avoid heavy late-season trimming in colder parts of its range.

Dwarf Burford Holly Spacing

Space Dwarf Burford Holly 3 to 4 feet apart for a dense hedge or privacy screen. Allow 6 to 8 feet between plants when growing it as a rounded specimen or in mixed shrub borders. For containers, choose a pot at least 20 to 24 inches wide with drainage holes, and water more often during summer because potted hollies dry faster.

For a warm-climate foundation bed, set Dwarf Burford Holly behind agapanthus and irises, so upright foliage and seasonal flowers will contrast with the holly’s glossy mass. Loropetalum can add darker foliage as it shares the same preference for sun to part-shade exposure and drained soil. In large containers, use liriope or dianthus around the base for lower texture that will not compete with the shrub’s root space.

Dwarf Burford Holly Information

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