Pollinator plant

winterberry holly

Ilex verticillata

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Common names

26 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American winterberry[2][4]
  • Black alder[3]
  • Common Winterberry[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Hulst
  • Winterbes
French
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 加拿大冬青[4]
  • 北美冬青[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 加拿大冬青[4]
  • 北美冬青[4]
Czech
  • cesmína přeslenatá[4]
Danish
  • virginsk kristtorn[4]
Estonian
  • männas-iileks[4]
Finnish
  • kesäorjanlaakeri[4]
Korean
  • 미국낙상홍[4]
Lithuanian
  • Virgininis bugienis[4]
Ojibwe
  • Biboonmiin (Animoshi-min, Awenisiibag, Anîmû'cîmînûn)[4]
Polish
  • Ostrokrzew okółkowy[4]
Russian
  • Падуб мутовчатый[4]
Slovak
  • cezmína praslenatá[4]
Ukrainian
  • Падуб кільчастий[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Ilex verticillata — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Winterberry Holly — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex verticillata.
  • Common Winterberry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex verticillata.
  • Winterberry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Ilex verticillata.
[2] Ilex verticillata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • winterberry holly — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • American winterberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • Michigan holly — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • winterberry — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • houx verticillé — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ilex verticillata ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Winterberry Holly — VernacularName.tsv, line 139497; taxon 3PG33.
  • Apalanche — VernacularName.tsv, line 139494; taxon 3PG33.
  • Aulne blanche (FR) — VernacularName.tsv, line 139495; taxon 3PG33.
  • Black alder (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 139496; taxon 3PG33.
[4] Ilex verticillata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • winterberry holly — results[9].names[0]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • American winterberry — results[9].names[2]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • Michigan holly — results[9].names[19]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • winterberry — results[9].names[3]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • houx verticillé — results[9].names[9]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • männas-iileks — results[9].names[5]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • Падуб мутовчатый — results[9].names[6]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • cesmína přeslenatá — results[9].names[7]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • Biboonmiin (Animoshi-min, Awenisiibag, Anîmû'cîmînûn) — results[9].names[8]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • 加拿大冬青 — results[9].names[10]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • 加拿大冬青 — results[9].names[11]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • 北美冬青 — results[9].names[12]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • 北美冬青 — results[9].names[13]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • 미국낙상홍 — results[9].names[14]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • Virgininis bugienis — results[9].names[16]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • virginsk kristtorn — results[9].names[17]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • Ostrokrzew okółkowy — results[9].names[18]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • kesäorjanlaakeri — results[9].names[20]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • cezmína praslenatá — results[9].names[21]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
  • Падуб кільчастий — results[9].names[22]; taxon id 61119; Ilex verticillata.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Ilex verticillata is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Aquifoliaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.91–4.57 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.91–3.66 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Multi-stemmed; Oval; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
E. Canada to C. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers in May.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Ilex verticillata — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 430592; ID 3PG33; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 430592; ID 3PG33; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Ilex verticillata — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Ilex verticillata — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 825207; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1449527, 1449528, 1449529, 1449530, 1449531, 1449532, 1449533, 1449534, 1449535, 1449536, 1449537, 1449538, 1449539, 1449540, 1449541, 1449542, 1449543, 1449544, 1449545, 1449546, 1449547, 1449548, 1449549, 1449550, 1449551, 1449552, 1449553, 1449554, 1449555, 1449556, 1449557, 1449558, 1449559, 1449560, 1449561, 1449562, 1449563, 1449564, 1449565

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.