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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Ilex verticillata

Common Winterberry

Scientific Name:

Ilex verticillata

Genus:

Ilex

Species Epithet:

verticillata

Common Name:

Common Winterberry

Plant Type

Tree/Shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Aquifoliaceae (Holly Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Invasive Status:

(*Key)

Size:

6-12 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist, Wet

Bloom Time:

April, May, June

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Bogs, pocosins, swampy forests. This is a strictly wetland species.  It is generally common (at least locally) in the NC mountains, Piedmont, and eastward to the western Coastal Plain. Fairly common in most of the remainder of the Coastal Plain, except very rare or absent in the far eastern counties. Also seemingly quite scarce in parts of the central-southern Coastal Plain, including the Sandhills region.

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Highest Wildlife Value

Landscape Value:

Suitable for home landscapes

State Rank:

S5: Secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Notes:

This species is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) so you need both sexes for the fruit production.

Beautiful red drupes in the Fall

garden in Guilford County, NC

The Scientific Name is Ilex verticillata. You will likely hear them called Common Winterberry. This picture shows the Beautiful red drupes in the Fall of Ilex verticillata

Diane Laslie

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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