Ilex cornuta 'O'Spring'

Other Names: O'Spring Chinese Holly

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b  Find Your Zone 

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If you love variegated plants, the O-Spring Holly is one you'll want to consider. It is an evergreen shrub that reaches 8 to 10 feet in height and 5 to 6 feet in width. From a distance, the shrub appears as a glowing creamy yellow rounded pyramid. Upon closer observation, you'll see the leaf centers are a grey-green shade. It does produce clusters of white flowers in late spring that the beneficial pollinators will appreciate, but since it's a male, it doesn't produce berries. Easy to grow and highly drought-tolerant, O'Spring Holly is a fine specimen, a corner plant in home foundation plantings, grouping, or an impenetrable hedge in sunny or shady landscape and woodland borders. The foliage stands out nicely against a dark background. Each leaf has seven spines, but it maintains its dense form with no pruning necessary, so you never have to touch it!

Growing 8 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide, the O'Spring Variegated Holly is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as an impenetrable hedge in sunny or shady landscape borders. It is also suitable to frame the corners of homes and other structures. It is a fine selection for Asian gardens, yellow theme gardens, shade gardens, and xeric gardens (low water needs).

Suggested Spacing:  4 to 4.5 feet apart for solid hedge; 9 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

The O'Spring Variegated Holly is exceptionally easy to grow in most well-drained soils of average fertility and full sun or heavy shade. It is highly drought-tolerant when established. No pruning is necessary; however, the plant responds well to it for tree forming.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, prune, fertilize, and water Chinese hollies.

How To Plant And Care For Chinese Hollies

Plant Long & Prosper!