Chinese Holly (scientific name: Ilex cornuta) is a plant in the family Aquifoliaceae and genus Ilex. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow up to 1 to 3 meters tall. Its leaves are thick, leathery, and quadrangular-oblong or ovate, measuring 4 to 9 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide, typically featuring 3 sharp, rigid spines at the apex, with the central spine often recurved. The upper surface of the leaves is a glossy deep green, while the underside is a pale green. The flowers grow in clusters from the leaf axils of second-year branches, and the spherical fruits have a diameter of 8 to 10 mm, turning bright red when ripe. It flowers from April to May and fruits from October to December.
