Description
Ilex verticillata
CT DR RG EcoR
Soil: Acidic loam
Light: Full to Part Sun
Moisture: Average to Wet
Plant Height: 6 to 12 feet
Plant Width: 6 to 12 feet
Pests: None
Landscape Value: Good for mass plantings in shrub borders, rain gardens and along foundations. Effective as a hedge. Provides year-round interest due to persistent fruits. Excellent for wet soils in low areas or along streams and ponds.
Slow-growing, deciduous member of the holly family with glossy, dark green leaves that turn attractive shades of maroon in the fall. Typical of the holly family, plants are either male or female. Inconspicuous white flowers appear in leaf axils in late spring. If pollinated, female flowers give way to dense clusters of bright red berry-like fruits that persist through winter and often into early spring. To produce fruits, both male and female plants are needed and both must bloom at the same time. Males can be planted some distance away, but the closer the male is to the female the more likely pollinators will visit both plants and pollinate the female flowers. Males are best planted within 50 feet of females. Flowers appear on new growth. If needed, prune in early spring before new growth appears. Spreads slowly by root suckering to form colonies. Prefers moist soil. Susceptible to yellowing of leaves in high pH (alkaline) soils. Tolerates clay soil, poorly-drained soil, air pollution, heat, and salt. Provides cover and nesting sites for songbirds. Fruits provide critical food for some birds in winter. Attracts butterflies and native bees. Larval host for Henry’s Elfin butterfly.
Note: These plants are the wild species type. They are not cultivars. As they are not old enough to show male or female characteristics, they have not been sexed.
Warning: All plant parts are somewhat toxic if ingested. Toxicity varies with season, stage of growth, and exposure to herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants in water, soil and air. Sensitivity to the toxin varies with age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable due to their curiosity and small size.
1 gallon pot, 3-4 feet tall
Photo credits:
Missouri Botanical Garden
North Carolina State Extension
