Summary
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is an outstanding, deciduous, ornamental shrub for the autumn and winter landscape. For most of the season this shrub quietly grows in the background until its abundant, inconspicuous flowers develop into clusters of red berries — the signature feature of this plant. The berry is technically known as a drupe and ranges in size from ¼” to ½” in diameter. Plants are dioecious (separate male and female plants) so only fertilized female flowers produce berries. A simultaneously flowering male pollinator plant is needed for best fruit set. The fruit is an important fuel source for migrating and overwintering songbirds.
Many cultivars of this species exist, including male and female pairs that will bloom at the same time.
‘Jim Dandy‘ is an early-blooming compact (3-6′) male cultivar that is usually paired with compact (2.5-3’) female cultivar ‘Red Sprite‘
‘Southern Gentleman’ is a male cultivar suitable for pollinating southern winterberry varieties, which have a later blooming time, such as ‘Cacapon’, ‘Shaver’, ‘Sparkleberry’, ‘Sunset’, ‘Winter Red’, and ‘Winter Gold’.
‘Winter Gold‘ (photo 6) is a female plant that produces orange berries.
‘Winter Red’ is a female cultivar noted for heavy fruiting, bright red fruit color and good retention of the bright fruit color throughout winter.
Winterberry performs well in a range of soils, though it prefers moist, acidic soil high in organic matter, and full sun to part shade, with full sun producing the best fruit set. This multi-stemmed shrub typically grows 8’-15’ tall with an equal spread, though there are cultivars selected for shorter habits. This is a great shrub for a rain garden, either as a specimen or massed with summer sweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia) or underplanted with cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and obedient-plant (Physostegia virginiana). Also ideal for back of the mixed border or for naturalizing. Cut stems are superb for seasonal arrangements. Zones 3-9.
More Details
- Plant Type
shrub - Sun/Shade Conditions
full-sun-to-part-shade - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
average-to-wet - Flowering Period
late-spring - Soil PH
acidic - Flower Color
yellowish-white - Summer Foliage Color
dark-green - Fall Foliage Color
occasionally-yellow - Other Common Names
Common Winterberry, Michigan Holly, Black Alder - Fruit/Seed Color
gold, red
Additional Information
Missouri Botanical Garden, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Illinois Wildflowers