Alphabetical Plant Listing

Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)

Winterberry, Common Winterberry, Winterberry, Michigan Holly, Black Alder, Ilex bronxensis, Ilex fastigiata, Ilex verticillata var. cyclophylla, Ilex verticillata var. fastigiata, Ilex verticillata var. padifolia, Ilex verticillata var. tenuifolia


Adding color to the winter landscape, Ilex verticillata (Winterberry) is a slow-growing, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub of upright-rounded habit. It produces an abundance of small, inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers in late spring or early summer. They are followed by a profusion of magnificent cherry red berries from fall through winter. Extremely attractive, they enliven the winter landscape and often persist into late winter unless eaten by birds. The foliage of lustrous, leathery, dark green leaves may develop yellow to purple-tinged fall color. Ilex verticillata are either male or female shrubs. Both male and female plants are needed to have berries. The male must be the same species as the female and bloom at the same time. Use in groupings or masses for maximum effect.

  • Grows with an upright-rounded habit up to 6-10 ft. tall and wide (180-300 cm).
  • Full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained, acidic soils. Tolerates poorly drained soils as well as wet boggy conditions. Does poorly in neutral to alkaline soils and often dies. The most prolific fruit display generally occurs in full sun to light shade. While it can grow in shady conditions, winterberry produces few fruits and is less attractive, becoming a loose and scraggly shrub. Tolerates dry soils but it may abort fruit set.
  • Generally pest and disease free
  • Mass in mixed shrub borders. Perfect as a specimen plant, hedges, or foundation plantings. Excellent shrub for wet soils, bog gardens, rain gardens, and along streams or ponds. The red-fruited branches make lovely home decorations
  • Flowers appear on new growth. Prune to shape in early spring just before new growth appears.
  • Seeds require 2 seasons of dormancy. Cuttings root readily.
  • All Ilex species may be somewhat toxic if ingested.
  • Native to Eastern North America

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 5 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, A2, A3
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Ilex - Hollies
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 6' – 10' (180cm – 3m)
Spread 6' – 10' (180cm – 3m)
Spacing 96" – 120" (240cm – 300cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Hedges and Screens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 5 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, A2, A3
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Ilex - Hollies
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 6' – 10' (180cm – 3m)
Spread 6' – 10' (180cm – 3m)
Spacing 96" – 120" (240cm – 300cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Hedges and Screens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Ilex - Hollies

Guides with Ilex - Hollies

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