Burford Holly
For sale in Lawrenceville, GA
- Moderate to Fast (2 ft/year)
- Full Sun to Part Shade
- Cold hardy to USDA Zone 8a
- Deer resistant
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About Burford Holly
Burford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii') is a large, tough evergreen shrub with distinctive glossy leaves that each carry a single spine at the tip rather than the multiple spines of American Holly, and it has been a Southern landscape staple for generations because of its near-indestructible nature. It reaches 15-20 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide if left unpruned, though it is commonly sheared into a formal hedge at 6-10 feet. Burford Holly is self-fruiting and loads up with large red berries every fall, among the showiest of any holly. It is exceptionally drought tolerant once established and shrugs off Georgia's compacted clay, summer heat, and poor soil better than almost any other screening plant we carry, thriving in conditions that would stress hydrangeas or azaleas. Its dense, thorny-tipped foliage also makes it an effective deterrent hedge along property lines where an extra layer of security-conscious screening is wanted, in addition to its straightforward privacy value.
🚚 Delivery available to Lawrenceville and all of Gwinnett County — see our service area for exact timing.
Plant Specifications
| Mature Height | 15-20 ft |
|---|---|
| Mature Width | 10-15 ft |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Water Needs | Low — very drought tolerant once established |
| Bloom Season | N/A (small spring flowers, grown for foliage) |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to Fast (2 ft/year) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 8a |
| Deer Resistant | Yes |
| Pet Safe | Check with a vet |
| Native to Georgia | No |
Planting Instructions & Regional Tips
Burford Holly tolerates a wide range of Georgia soils, including compacted clay and dry, sunny slopes where other shrubs fail. Plant with the root ball slightly above grade, space 6-8 feet apart for a screen or 4-5 feet for a formal hedge, and water weekly the first season. Once established it needs little irrigation and tolerates hard pruning well if size control is needed.
Fast Facts
- Mature height: 15-20 ft, width 10-15 ft if unpruned
- Extremely drought tolerant once established
- Self-fruiting with heavy fall berry crops
- Single spine per leaf tip, unlike multi-spined hollies
- Tolerates poor, compacted clay soil better than most shrubs
- Deer resistant and long-lived Southern landscape classic
Pairs Well With
Burford Holly FAQs
How big does Burford Holly get if not pruned?
Left unpruned, Burford Holly grows into a large shrub or small tree 15-20 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide. Most Georgia homeowners maintain it as a sheared hedge at 6-10 feet, but it can be allowed to reach full size as a substantial privacy screen or specimen.
Is Burford Holly drought tolerant?
Yes, Burford Holly is one of the most drought-tolerant screening shrubs available, thriving in Georgia's hot, dry summer stretches once its root system is established, usually after the first full year in the ground. It requires far less irrigation than hydrangeas or azaleas planted nearby.