Smooth Winterberry
Ilex laevigata
- Native to:
- United States
Richard Webb, Self-employed horticulurist, Bugwood.org
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- Ilex laevigata
- USDA Symbol:
- ILLA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
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)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Clematis Sphinx (Sphinx luscitiosa), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moist, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers swampy or wetland areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 150–270 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds exhibit double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold stratification. May take two years to germinate in natural conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI