'Anicet Delcambre' (usually called 'Needlepoint' in the trade) is a female cultivar of Chinese holly ( Ilex cornuta ). Like Chinese holly, it is drought and heat-tolerant and produces abundant, vivid red fruits. It is a member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). This holly is tolerant of most soils except poorly drained ones and can be grown in full to partial sun. It is tolerant of heat and humidity and is drought tolerant once established, making it a good choice for the south. This cultivar is moderately salt tolerant. Prune in the late winter to control its size if needed. 'Anicet Delcambre' is one of the best hollies for use as a screen in the landscape and is also effective when planted en masse or in a group. It can also be planted as a specimen, used in small groups, or planted along a foundation. The fruit and evergreen leaves make for winter interest in the landscape. It takes well to pruning and can be grown as a hedge up to 15 feet tall or trained to be a small tree up to 20 feet tall. It is suitable for an Asian, drought-tolerant or pollinator garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Holly leaf miner, scale, whitefly, and spider mites are occasional insect pests. Powdery mildew, leaf spot, leaf rot, and tar spot are potential disease problems. However, it is resistant to phytophthora root rot. Depending on their planting location this shrub can exhibit chlorosis, leaf drop, or leaf scorch from high pH soils. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests. More information on Ilex cornuta .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Pyramidal
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery; Prickly; Waxy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, lustrous dark green above, yellow-green below. Leaves are spiny, coriaceous, and 1 1/2 to 2 inches long, oblong-rectangular in shape, slightly twisted with a large spine at the tip.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Cyme; Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, 4-parted, radial, axillary, dull-white flowers in late spring that are 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch. Male and female flowers are on different plants (dioecious). Fragrant but not showy.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry; Drupe
Fruit value
Long-lasting; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
A good fruiter with vivid red, 1/4 inch diameter berries. They are produced on female plants. Fruits persist into winter.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Smooth gray bark becoming finely flakey with size.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Slender, green stems turning reddish-green in the winter, buds small, leaf scar with 1 bundle scar. Branchlets are dense.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Eastern China, Korea
Distribution
Southeastern United States
Wildlife value
Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators; Songbirds; Specialized Bees
Play value
Buffer; Sound; Wildlife Food Source; Wind Break
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Berry; Drupe
Edibility
Use caution. Berries are slightly toxic to humans if eaten in quantity.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Lawn; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Barrier; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy; Small groups; Specimen