Ilex is the Latin word for members of the holly family. The direct translation is holm-oak and as late as the 19th century in Britain, the term Ilex was still being applied to the oak as well as the holly. While in Germany visiting my aunt a couple of years ago, I became enchanted with one of the 480 species of holly, Ilex verticillata, more commonly known as Winterberry. Although its gorgeous, bright berries cast the initial spell, I learned more about this lovely plant, whi