Ilex verticillata x serrata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks ver-ti-si-LAH-tuh x sair-AY-tuh
- Description
-
Winterberry is a native deciduous shrub and requires a male and female plant for pollination. It prefers moist, acidic, organically rich soils and tolerates wet sites. It is adaptable to other soils as long as they are acidic and moist. Winterberry spreads by suckers and can form colonies.
When purchasing a female plant be sure to purchase the male variety that blooms at the same time. One male plant will pollinate up to 3-5 female shrubs. Be sure to place the female plants where the red berries can be seen and enjoyed for year-round interest.
Use this plant along streams or ponds, in rain gardens, as a hedge or a naturalized area.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Quick ID Hints:
- Deciduous shrubby holly with persistent red berries.
- Berry has a terminal black dot, not a 'fly'.
- Leaves are serrated and veins are pubescent underneath.
- Leaf veins are impressed.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: chlorosis on high pH soils, leaf spot and powdery mildew, but they are rarely disfiguring
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Apollo'
Male plant - 'Harvest Red'
Female shrub - 'Raritan Chief'
Male pollinator - 'Sparkleberry'
Female shrub
- 'Apollo'
- 'Apollo', 'Harvest Red', 'Raritan Chief', 'Sparkleberry'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Apollo'
Male plant - 'Harvest Red'
Female shrub - 'Raritan Chief'
Male pollinator - 'Sparkleberry'
Female shrub
- 'Apollo'
- 'Apollo', 'Harvest Red', 'Raritan Chief', 'Sparkleberry'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- verticillata
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- United States and Canada
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds. Flowers attract bees. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer damage
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Oval
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Showy bright red berry-like drupe on female plants that persists into winter
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, creamy-white flowers on male and female plants. Male plants bloom in clusters, female plants solitary or groups of 2-3 in early to mid-June. Female blooms have a distinct green miniature "knob" in the center while male blooms have anthers.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, dark green leaves; 1.5-3 inches long and .75 to 1.25 inches wide. Margins are serrated to doubly serrated and base and tip are acute. Undersides have hairs. Light yellow fall color
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- The bark is dark gray to brown, generally smooth with some lenticels
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Purple-brown young stems grow gray with age. Stems glabrous with dark black points on the twig surface on each side of the leaf scar
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Pollution
- Wet Soil
