Is Chinese Holly deer resistant?
Ilex cornuta
Plant typeShrubHardinessZones 7–9LightFull sun
Mature height96–180 in
BloomSpringMaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Chinese Holly
Fiercely spined leaves and large red berries, and it sets fruit without a male nearby, unlike most hollies. Better in southern heat than English holly.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 7
- Drainage
- Well drained
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 71 to 94 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Tolerances and uses
- Evergreen
Similar to Chinese Holly
Other shrubs with the same deer rating.
- Antelope BitterbrushPurshia tridentataSeldom damaged
- Anthony Waterer SpireaSpiraea x bumaldaZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Apache PlumeFallugia paradoxaZones 6–10Seldom damaged
- Armstrong JuniperJuniperus chinensis 'Armstrongii'Zones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn OliveElaeagnus umbellataZones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn SageSalvia greggiiZones 6–9Seldom damaged
Where Chinese Holly grows
Hardy across most of these 36 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Illinois
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
Browse from here
Every list Chinese Holly belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Chinese Holly
- Is Chinese Holly deer resistant?
- Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Chinese Holly grow in?
- Chinese Holly is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Chinese Holly grow in shade?
- No. Chinese Holly wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Chinese Holly get?
- Mature height is roughly 96–180 in. Growth rate is moderate.
- Is Chinese Holly toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Chinese Holly as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.