Dwarf Burford Holly

Dwarf Burford Holly - Compact Evergreen Shrub With Red Berries | 6-8 Feet Tall, Individual Plants

Add classic evergreen beauty and vibrant winter berries to your landscape with the Dwarf Burford Holly. This popular holly shrub is prized for its dense glossy foliage, compact growth habit, and bright red berries that appear in fall and persist through winter. Known for its toughness and adaptability, Dwarf Burford Holly delivers year-round structure and seasonal color while remaining smaller and easier to manage than traditional Burford Holly varieties.

Its deep green leaves have a distinctive rounded shape with a single spine at the tip, creating a soft but classic holly appearance. In spring, small white flowers appear along the branches and later develop into vibrant red berries that stand out beautifully against the evergreen foliage. With its naturally dense growth and attractive form, Dwarf Burford Holly makes an excellent choice for hedges, foundation plantings, and landscape borders.

Why You'll Love the Dwarf Burford Holly

Bright Winter Berries: Produces vibrant red berries in fall and winter, adding beautiful seasonal color and attracting birds.

Dense Evergreen Foliage: Glossy deep green leaves provide year-round structure and texture in the landscape.

Compact Landscape Size: Growing 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide at maturity, this variety stays more manageable than standard Burford Holly.

Extremely Durable Plant: Highly tolerant of heat, drought, and urban conditions once established.

Dwarf Burford Holly Details

Botanical Name: Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana'
Type: Evergreen shrub
Mature Size: 72-96" tall × 72-96" wide (dense rounded habit)
Growth Rate: Moderate growth rate
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained soil adaptable to many soil types
Water: Water regularly until established, moderate drought tolerance once mature
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7, 8, 9

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Performs best in well-drained soil but adapts easily to sandy, loamy, or clay soils. Avoid consistently waterlogged areas.

Light Requirements: Thrives in full sun for best berry production and dense growth but tolerates partial shade.

Hardiness: USDA zones 7-9, making it well suited for warm climates with strong heat tolerance.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Once established, this shrub becomes moderately drought tolerant.

Pruning: Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain desired shape or control size if needed.

Fertilizing: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring to promote healthy growth and berry production.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Dwarf Burford Holly’s evergreen foliage and colorful berries make it suitable for: foundation plantings, privacy hedges, borders, mass plantings, and winter interest gardens.

Hedge & Border Excellence: Its dense branching and manageable size make it ideal for creating evergreen hedges or structured landscape borders.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Dwarf Burford Holly? For hedges or mass plantings, space plants 5 to 6 feet apart on center to allow for mature spread.

Does Dwarf Burford Holly produce berries? Yes, this variety can produce bright red berries without a separate male pollinator in many landscapes.

Is Dwarf Burford Holly evergreen? Yes, it maintains its glossy green foliage year round, providing consistent structure and beauty in the landscape.