Georgia Holly

Ilex longipes

Native to:
United States
Georgia Holly

Mason Brock ( Masebrock (en.wikipedia.org) )

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Aquifoliaceae
Genus:
Ilex
Species:
Ilex longipes
USDA Symbol:
ILLO

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
600 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr,may
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

Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), pawpaw sphinx (Dolba hyloeus), Red-banded leafroller (Argyrotaenia velutinana)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.0 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Prefers forested areas with organic matter

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 150–240 days
Germination Time:
30–90 days
Notes:
Seeds exhibit double dormancy; warm stratification followed by cold stratification is typically required. Germination may be erratic and can take 2-3 years.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI