Ilex fastigiata E.P. Bicknell

Scientific Name: Ilex fastigiata E.P. Bicknell


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Rosidae / Celastrales / Aquifoliaceae / Ilex L./ Ilex fastigiata E.P. Bicknell

<i>Ilex fastigiata</i> E.P. Bicknell
General Information
Usda SymbolILFA
GroupDicot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsShrubTree,
Native LocationsILFA

Plant Guide

Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Ilex fastigiata E.P. Bicknell is planted.

Fact Sheet

Uses

The attractive bright red fruit of winterberry is eaten by small mammals and more than 48 species of birds. The leaves and stems of winterberry are not a preferred source of browse, but moose, whitetail deer, cottontail rabbits, and snowshoe hare do utilize this plant. The persistent bright red fruit of this shrub make it very popular for landscaping. It is recommended for planting in shady moist areas, even though its growth and form are best under open grown conditions.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

Winterberry is an erect moderate sized shrub, growing to heights of 5 to 15 feet tall. The smooth bark of winterberry is gray to blackish, with knobby lenticels The dense branches of this shrub grow in a zigzag pattern with an upright spreading crown. The twigs are slender, with gray to gray-brown color and small buds. The simple, smooth, obovate to oblong-ovate foliage is sharply double toothed, with medium fine texture. The deciduous leaves are arranged alternately along the stems. Each leaf is 1 1/2 to 4 inches long, with dark green summer color turning yellow in fall, then drop off by mid-October. Small, inconspicuous, axillary, greenish to yellowish-white flowers bloom from April to July, after leaves have emerged. Like most others in the holly genus, winterberry is dioecious. Three years after planting, pistillate flowers begin to emerge in small clusters plants and staminate flowers develop on male plants with up to twelve flowers in a cluster; only now can plant gender be determined. Scarlet red to orange, globular fruit mature by late summer, often remaining on the plant into mid-winter. The berry-like fruit is about 1/4 inch in diameter, occurring singlely or in pairs, each containing 3 to 5 small nutlets. There are an average of 92,000 seeds per pound. Robert H. Mohlenbrock USDA NRCS 1989 Midwestern Wetland Flora @ USDA NRCS PLANTS

Adaptation and Distribution

Distribution

Distribution

Winterberry is found throughout the eastern United States, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Ilex fastigiata E.P. Bicknell., For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website,

Establishment

Planting units of winterberry are propagated by seed, rooted stem divisions, and stem cuttings alike. The germination is usually hindered by hard seed coats and embryo dormancy. Utilizing proper after ripening and cold moist stratification procedures, germination can be stimulated. Seed should be covered with at least 1/8 to 1/2 inch of soil on nursery beds. Fall seedings should be mulched for winter protection. When seedlings are acquired, the sex of the plant is typically indeterminable, in contrast to those propagated vegetatively. In late fall root suckers can be directly dug and transplanted, while actively growing softwood cuttings are taken from late spring to mid-summer. The cuttings are first placed under glass or plastic, but once roots form and begin to grow, they can be transplanted into containers or nursery beds for further development. Utilize standard tree and shrub planting procedures to plant bare rooted transplants, containerized, or balled and burlapped stock.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Hedge ToleranceLow
Hedge ToleranceLow
Frost Free Days, Minimum140
Frost Free Days, Minimum140
Fire ToleranceLow
Fire ToleranceLow
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fertility RequirementMedium
Drought ToleranceLow
Drought ToleranceLow
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-33
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceLow
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsNo
Moisture UseHigh
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-28
Shade ToleranceIntermediate
Shade ToleranceIntermediate
Salinity ToleranceNone
Salinity ToleranceNone
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)16
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)16
Precipitation, Minimum35
Precipitation, Minimum35
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Maximum60
Planting Density per Acre, Minim700
Planting Density per Acre, Minim700
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim2700
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim2700
pH, Minimum4.5
pH, Minimum4.5
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Maximum7.5
Moisture UseHigh


Morphology/Physiology

Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
Shape and OrientationClimbing
Fire ResistantNo
Foliage TextureCoarse
Foliage TextureCoarse
Foliage Porosity WinterModerate
Foliage Porosity WinterModerate
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Flower ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Flower ColorWhite
Flower ColorWhite
Resprout AbilityYes
Fire ResistantNo
Fall ConspicuousYes
Fall ConspicuousYes
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
C:N RatioHigh
C:N RatioHigh
BloatNone
BloatNone
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
Shape and OrientationClimbing
Fruit/Seed ColorRed
Resprout AbilityYes
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)10.0
Height, Mature (feet)9.0
Fruit/Seed ColorRed
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Growth FormMultiple Stem
Growth FormMultiple Stem
Growth RateModerate
Growth RateModerate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee6
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee6


Reproduction

Propagated by CuttingsYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Seed per Pound92000
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Seed per Pound92000
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seedling VigorLow
Seedling VigorLow
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by CormNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes


Suitability/Use

Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Protein PotentialLow
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

<i>Ilex fastigiata</i> E.P. Bicknell

<i>Ilex fastigiata</i> E.P. Bicknell

<i>Ilex fastigiata</i> E.P. Bicknell

<i>Ilex fastigiata</i> E.P. Bicknell

<i>Ilex fastigiata</i> E.P. Bicknell

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