Common Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Aquifoliaceae
Genus:: Ilex
Species:: Ilex verticillata

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub , Tree
Height:: 20-40 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: apr, may, jun, jul
Bloom Colors:: White, Yellow, Green, Brown
Evergreen Shrub:: Yes
Landscaping Shrub:: Yes

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Bee Keystone:: ★★★★★ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

black-headed bell moth (Rhopobota naevana), Harrisimemna trisignata, Io moth (Automeris io), Melsheimer's sack-bearer (Cicinnus melsheimeri), Nevada buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis-complex), pawpaw sphinx (Dolba hyloeus), reticulated sparganothis moth (Sparganothis reticulatana), Rhopobota dietziana, Rhopobota finitimana, Rhopobota unipunctana, Scallop moth (Cepphis armataria), skiff moth (Prolimacodes badia), Sparganothis daphnana, Unicorn caterpillar moth (Schizura unicornis)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Bombus perplexus (Bombus perplexus), Bombus perplexus (Bombus perplexus), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Xylocopa virginica (Xylocopa virginica), Xylocopa virginica (Xylocopa virginica)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: moist, acidic, organic-rich soil
pH:: 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:: tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:: consistently moist
Notes:: prefers wetland areas like swamps and bogs

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Requires 2 months of warm moist stratification followed by 2 months of cold moist stratification. Use a Ziploc-style bag or a small Rubbermaid-style container to mix an equal amount of seeds with either perlite or vermiculite. Add a small amount of water. Place in a room temperature setting for at least 2 months followed by cold storage for at least 2 months. Cold store until planted (up to 3 years).

Establishment: Seed is collected by hand from locally native plants. Seed has a deep dormancy, germination will be delayed to the second spring after sowing the seed. Soil is kept consistently damp during germination. Water using a fine mist or light hose setting only.

Source: npn.rngr.net