* This study uses complete chloroplast genome sequences and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from genome resequencing to analyze 116 Ilex accessions and construct phylogenetic trees.
* The resulting phylogenetic trees from chloroplast genomes and nuclear SNPs show significant differences, with chloroplast DNA identifying eight major clades and SNP data revealing seven, suggesting a complex evolutionary history influenced by hybridization and lineage sorting.
Ilex verticillata (L.) A. Gray (Winter Red) is a deciduous shrub and native to North America with high ornamental value, which was introduced into China in 2006.