Ilex verticillata ‘Jim Dandy’ (Winterberry)
Winterberry 'Jim Dandy', Black Alder 'Jim Dandy', Feverbark 'Jim Dandy', Swamp Winterberry 'Jim Dandy'
Ilex verticillata ‘Jim Dandy’ (Winterberry) is a dwarf deciduous shrub of upright, rounded habit with elliptic, glossy, dark green leaves that turn purplish green to yellow in fall. This deciduous holly produces abundant small greenish-white flowers in early to mid-summer, making it a good pollinator for other winterberries. ‘Jim Dandy’ is a male plant that does not get fruit but will serve to pollinate female varieties such as ‘Berry Heavy’ or ‘Red Sprite’ to produce attractive berries.
- Slow-growing, this deciduous shrub grows up to 3-6 ft. tall (90-180 cm) and 4-8 ft. wide (120-240 cm).
- A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is best 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.
- 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.
- This plant should rarely require pruning. If it does, prune to shape in early spring just before new growth begins.
- Native to Eastern North America
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 | Aquifoliaceae |
| Genus | Ilex |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Height |
3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm) |
| Spread |
4' - 8' (120cm - 240cm) |
| Spacing |
48" - 96" (120cm - 240cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Bog Gardens, Hedges And Screens, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
Alternative Plants to Consider
Recommended Companion Plants
Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens
PhotoCourtesy of Bailey Nurseries Inc
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 | Aquifoliaceae |
| Genus | Ilex |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Height |
3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm) |
| Spread |
4' - 8' (120cm - 240cm) |
| Spacing |
48" - 96" (120cm - 240cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Bog Gardens, Hedges And Screens, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
