Winterberry Holly is one of the very few deciduous Hollies that leaves stems full of red berries after the leaves fall off.
This native grows from eastern Canada to Alabama and loves wet sites, unlike most Hollies.
It gets tiny white flowers in June and are a favorite of pollinators. The berries start green and ripen to red (some varieties are orange) in August/September and persist into January depending on bird populations. These berries are a favorite food source for songbirds.
The multi-stemmed parent species can get 6-9’ tall while the dwarf species, ‘Sprite’ grow to about 3’.
Ilex verticillata is a terrific plant for the fall/winter landscapes with the added bonus of feeding pollinators and birds. Like most Hollies, Winterberry needs a male (along with a female) for good fruit set.
