Ilex verticillata 'Southern Gentleman'
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- 'Late Male'
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks ver-ti-si-LAY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Ilex verticillata, or Winterberry, is dioecious (meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). The 'Southern Gentleman' I. verticillata cultivar, is the late blooming male pollinator plant for other, late blooming, female Ilex verticillata plants. You need a ratio of one male Winterberry for every 6 to10 female Winterberry plants. The late blooming female I. verticillata cultivars include ‘Cacapon’, ‘Shaver’, 'Sparkleberry’, ‘Sunset’, 'Winter Red', and ‘Winter Gold’.
The 'Southern Gentleman' cultivar is a deciduous tree or shrub that may grow to 8 feet high, somewhat smaller than the 10 to 15 foot height of the Winterberry parent plant. The leaves are alternate with a sharply toothed margin and hairy underside. The bark is thin, smooth, and gray-brown. In spring, stalked, yellow-green flowers mature in clusters. Because 'Southern Gentleman' is a male plant, it produces no fruit.
Winterberry cultivars are highly adaptable to various soil types, including heavy clay, but prefer organically rich, moist loamy soils. It needs an acidic soil or may suffer from chlorosis. Tolerates poorly drained soils including wet or swampy conditions (this species is native to swampy areas of Eastern North America). Flowers appear on new growth. Prune to shape in early spring just before new growth appears.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious problems. Leaf spots and powdery mildew occasionally occur. Neutral to alkaline soils may cause chlorosis (yellowing of leaves) and even death.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- verticillata
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- hedges, rain garden
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- Native North Carolina
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The Winterberry is a host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly and attracts other pollinators. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi. The foliage is food source for rabbits and deer.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- resistant to fire, damage by deer, heat, and drought.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Will not produce fruits as this is a male plant.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant greenish-white male flowers appear in clusters of 6 or more in leaf axils. Blooms April to June.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green glossy leaves that have purple-bronze to yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Grey to blackish with knobby lenticel bark, grey to grey-brown buds.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Stems are olive-brown to purplish-brown and are lenticelled.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Salt
- Wet Soil
