Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Aquifoliaceae

Genus:

Ilex

Species:

Ilex coriacea

USDA Symbol:

ILCO

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

450 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may

Bloom Colors:

white

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:

★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from root crown following fire. Common in fire-maintained pocosins and bay swamps of the southeastern Coastal Plain.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Commonly found in wetland areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 150–240 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Ilex seeds exhibit double dormancy; warm stratification followed by cold stratification is typically required. Germination may take 2-3 years in natural conditions.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI