Long-stalk Holly / Center For Plant Conservation
Search / Plant Profile / Ilex collina
Plant Profile

Long-stalk Holly (Ilex collina)

Ilex collina fruit close-up.

 Photo Credit: Douglas Ogle
  • Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Aquifoliaceae
  • State: GA, NC, TN, VA, WV
  • Nature Serve ID: 154417
  • Lifeform: Shrub, Tree
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/15/1986
Description:

Ilex collina, a long-stalked holly, is a deciduous shrub of great ornamental potential. It is a multi-stemmed shrub growing to 10 feet, with large berries that range in color from dark scarlet-red to orange and yellow (Strausbaugh and Core 1978, Gleason and Cronquist 1991). 

Where is Long-stalk Holly (Ilex collina) located in the wild?

Habitat:

I. collina can be found growing on hills (Strausbaugh and Core 1978). Preferred habitats feature tall shrub thickets, hydric peat, and sandstone soils along bogs, ponds, hydric peat, and oligotrophic saturated wetlands throughout North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia (NatureServe 2016).

Distribution:

This mid-Appalachian species has a very restricted range; it is known from Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph and Webster Counties in West Virginia (Nicholson 1987).

States & Provinces:

Long-stalk Holly can be found in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

Which CPC Partners conserve Long-stalk Holly (Ilex collina)?

  • The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

    Sponsored
    Sponsors Add

    Silver Sponsor

    The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

    Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

    The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

    Assigned 06/09/17

  • The Dawes Arboretum

    Not Sponsored
    Assigned 03/19/19
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    • 10/06/2020
      • Propagation Research

    Propagation from seed: 1 month of warm and 3 months of cold stratification (immature embryo) (Nicholson 1987). Propagation from softwood cuttings: difficult, in June, treat with 5,000 ppm K-IBA, under mist. Yields about 20% rooting rate.

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    There are 37 recent sites in five states, occurring in a limited range of high-elevation streamside habitats. Total population size is estimated to be a few thousand individuals.

    Irina Kadis
    • 01/01/2010

    Habitat destruction and general urbanization.

    Irina Kadis
    • 01/01/2010

    Remaining sites and individual number is unknown.

    Irina Kadis
    • 01/01/2010

    Propagation from seed: 1 month of warm and 3 months of cold stratification (immature embryo) (Nicholson 1987). Propagation from softwood cuttings: difficult, in June, treat with 5,000 ppm K-IBA, under mist. Yields about 20% rooting rate.

    Irina Kadis
    • 01/01/2010

    No formalized management plan has been designed because this species is not listed as threatened or endangered.

    Irina Kadis
    • 01/01/2010

    There is urgent need for a taxonomic study of I. collina, as there is much doubt about its distinctiveness as a species (Bass 1984).

    MORE

    Be the first to post an update!

    Nomenclature
    Taxon Ilex collina
    Authority Alexander
    Family Aquifoliaceae
    CPC Number 2306
    ITIS 27993
    USDA ILCO2
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Long-stalked Holly | Longstalk Holly
    Associated Scientific Names Nemopanthus collinus | Ilex collina
    Distribution This mid-Appalachian species has a very restricted range; it is known from Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph and Webster Counties in West Virginia (Nicholson 1987).
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Georgia S1
    North Carolina S1
    Tennessee S1
    Virginia S2
    West Virginia S2
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    This shrub can grow 3 to 4 meters tall, and produces vibrant red-orange berries. Photo Credit: Rob Nicholson

    A closeup view of the deciduous leaves and red-orange berries of this plant. Photo Credit: Rob Nicholson

    Photo Credit: Douglas Ogle © 2012

    Ilex collina fruit close-up.

    Photo Credit: Douglas Ogle
    Pollinators
    Common Name Name in Text Association Type Source InteractionID
    Bees
    Honey bees Honeybees Confirmed Pollinator Link
    Flies
    Flies Confirmed Pollinator Link

    Donate to CPC to Save this Species

    CPC secures rare plants for future generations by coordinating on-the-ground conservation and training the next generation of plant conservation professionals. Donate today to help save rare plants from extinction.

    Donate Today