Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Aquifoliaceae

Genus:

Ilex

Species:

Ilex volkensiana

USDA Symbol:

ILVO2

Growth Characteristics

Height:

1500 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

white

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

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

native to montane forests, prefers organic matter

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–180 days

Germination Time:

30–365 days

Notes:

Ilex seeds typically exhibit double dormancy and may take 1-2 years to germinate. Warm stratification followed by cold stratification is often required.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI