Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold' (Winterberry)
Winterberry 'Winter Gold', Black Alder 'Winter Gold', Feverbark 'Winter Gold', Swamp Winterberry 'Winter Gold'
Acclaimed for its heavy fruiting, Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold' is a slow-growing, multi-stemmed shrub with an upright-rounded habit. This deciduous winterberry holly produces abundant small greenish-white flowers in late spring or early summer that are followed by a profusion of large, glossy golden-peachy berries from early fall throughout winter. Extremely attractive, they enliven the winter landscape and often persist into early spring unless eaten by birds. The foliage of dark green leaves turns golden-bronze in fall. 'Winter Gold' is a female plant and needs a male pollinator to produce attractive golden berries. Generally, one male winterberry will be sufficient for pollinating 6-10 female plants. Since the blooms come late, 'Winter Gold' requires a late-blooming male as a pollinator (such as 'Southern Gentleman').
- Grows up to 5-8 ft. tall and wide (150-240 cm).
- Winner of the Gold Medal Award of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
- This plant is easily grown in full sun to part shade 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 displays generally occur 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.
- 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 salmon fruited branches make lovely home decorations
- Flowers appear on new growth. Prune to shape in early spring just before new growth appears
- Native to Eastern North America
Not sure which Ilex - Hollies to pick?
Compare All Ilex - Hollies
Buy Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold' (Winterberry)
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 | 5' – 8' (150cm – 240cm) |
Spread | 5' – 8' (150cm – 240cm) |
Spacing | 60" – 96" (150cm – 240cm) |
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, Plant of Merit, Showy |
Tolerance | Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Birds |
Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Hedges and Screens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
Photo courtesy - The University of Tennessee - Jason Reeves
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 | 5' – 8' (150cm – 240cm) |
Spread | 5' – 8' (150cm – 240cm) |
Spacing | 60" – 96" (150cm – 240cm) |
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, Plant of Merit, Showy |
Tolerance | Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Birds |
Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Hedges and Screens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |