Ilex rotunda aka Kurogane Holly

Ilex rotunda is an evergreen member of the holly family, Aquifoliaceae. Its common names include rounded holly and Kurogane holly. It grows as a shrub or tree in eastern Asia. Its native range spans central and southeastern China to Indo-China. It also includes southern Korea, central and southern Japan, and Taiwan. It grows in evergreen broad-leaf forests and along mountain forest edges. Recorded habitats lie at elevations of 1,312–3,609 feet [400–1,100 metres].

This tree has a bushy form with upright growth. Garden trees can exceed 39 feet [12 metres] in height. Their spread reaches about 8–13 feet [2.5–4 metres]. Wild trees reach around 49 feet [15 metres]. The RHS gives a maturity period of 20–50 years. The leaves are dark green, oval, and leathery. They lack spines and stay on the tree year-round. Small yellow-green flowers open from May to June. Female plants then carry clusters of red berries. These fruits provide colour, but they are not food.

Grow this holly in full sun or partial shade. It needs moist soil that drains well. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and chalk soils. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. The RHS lists both exposed and sheltered sites as suitable. It gives the tree a UK hardiness rating of H6. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 6–9. Its evergreen crown suits woodland gardens and planting for year-round structure. The RHS also suggests coastal, courtyard, informal, and wildlife gardens.

The RHS includes this tree among low-maintenance planting choices. Hedges can be trimmed in early spring. Growers can take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or early autumn. Hardwood cuttings taken in January need heat beneath them. Scale insects and holly leaf miner may attack the plant. Aphids may feed on young shoots. Possible diseases include holly leaf blight and Phytophthora root rot. Honey fungus can also affect it.

Plants For A Future records no known edible uses. The RHS warns people and pets not to eat the fruit. It also advises gloves and other protection when handling the plant. Plants For A Future records traditional medicinal uses for the stem bark. It also notes use in herbal mixtures intended to stop bleeding. These records do not establish safety for home treatment. The same source lists no other known uses beyond those described.