Abstract: 【Objective】Ilex verticillata L.(winterberry, North America holly)is a deciduous shrub and dioecism, and also an important ornamental and commercial species owing to its red fruits in winter. The study of drought treatment to Ilex verticillata seedlings will provide reference for expanding this species scope of cultivation area.【Method】The effects of methyl jasmonate(MJ)on antioxidative capacity in the leaves by spraying MJ, drought and re-watering to seedlings including control, 500 μmol/L MJ, drought, 500 μmol/L MJ +drought(drought+MJ)treatments were investigated. 【Result】Drought significantly reduced leaf water content,pigment(chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids)content while foliar spray with methyl jasmonate under drought increased all above index levels compared to the control. Drought signifi-cantly increased the contents of H₂O₂, superoxide radical(O^·-₂)and malondialdehyde(MDA), and attained to high peak on the 12th day treatment, respectively, while application MJ significantly reduced the levels of these parameters under drought stress. Drought affected antioxidative enzyme activities and antioxidant contents differently: superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity was observed decreasing firstly then increasing, however peroxidase(POD), ascorbate peroxidase(APX), glutathione reductase(GR)activities and AsA or GSH content were increased with the drought time extension, and achieved to high peak at 8th day(GR and GSH)or 12th day(POD, APX and AsA), respectively. On the other hand, application MJ under drought stress, POD, APX activities and AsA content at the 8th day, GR activity and GSH content at the 3th day reached high peaks,respectively. Afterward, these antioxidative enzymes and antioxidants correspondingly restored to the low levels with H₂O₂, and O^·-₂ level decreasing. Ilex verticillata seedlings could recover under re-watering for 6 days after Drought+MJ treatment for 12 days, but the opposite result was found under single drought treatment. 【Conclusion】 The application MJ could early and quickly activate the antioxidant protection systems, reduce oxidative stress, relieve the injury of the drought stress and improving drought tolerance of Ilex verticillata seedlings.