Ilex cornuta is valued horticulturally for its attractive and distinctive rectangular foliage and for its large red berries.

Ilex cornuta and its cultivars will tolerate a wide variety of soils and will grow in sun or shade.

[7] Flowers begin to bloom during the early spring and are a dull white color and have a fragrance.

The stem of Ilex cornuta is either green or a red to burgundy color depending on the season.

[10] It has been observed naturalized in the eastern United States, found most prominently in North Carolina, Alabama, and Kentucky.

[13] Ilex cornuta is used for winter interest and drought tolerant gardens, as barriers, for privacy, and hedges.