Winterberry Holly Ilex verticillata

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling

EYE-leks ver-ti-sil-LAH-tah

This plant has low severity poison characteristics.

Description

Winterberry holly is a slow-growing, woody, deciduous tree or shrub in the Aquifoliaceae (holly) family native to Eastern North America. It may grow 3 to15 feet tall and 3 to12 feet wide. There are dwarf cultivars available. The common name refers to the plant’s red berries that mature in the fall, providing winter interest and food for birds and small mammals.

Winterberry holly requires moist, acidic soil with good drainage in deep or partial shade, or full sun. It tolerates heat, drought, and soil compaction. It may abort fruit set in dry soil. It is resistant to deer foraging, fire, and salt. To produce berries the plant must be properly cross-pollinated. Match blooming times with a male pollinator like 'Jim Dandy' or 'Southern Gentleman' by planting one male (per 10 to 20 females) within 50 feet of female plants.

Winterberry is low maintenance and makes a nice border or hedge in pond areas, rain gardens, and recreational play areas. It is a good addition to children’s, native, winter, and pollinator gardens and is also popular as a foundation planting. The plant tolerates pruning, but keep in mind that flowers will appear on new growth. It is a food source for butterflies, pollinators, small mammals, songbirds, and specialized bees.

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, or Other Plant Problems: The native holly leafminer, Japanese wax scale, and southern red mites are the most frequently reported pests of hollies in the southeastern United States. Leaf spots and powdery mildew occasionally occur. Neutral to alkaline soils may cause chlorosis (yellowing of leaves) and even death.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Ilex.

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See this plant in the following landscapes:

Entryway Garden, Cabarrus County Extension Office Native Plant Demonstration Garden All Saints' Episcopal Church

Cultivars / Varieties:

'Afterglow'
Pollinated by 'Apollo', 'Jim Dandy', 'Raritan'
'Berry Heavy'
Pollinated by: 'Jim Dandy'
'Berry Nice'
Pollinated by: 'Jim Dandy'
'Bright Horizon'
'Carolina Cardinal'
'Golden Verboom'
'Jim Dandy'
Early blooming male pollinator
'Jolly Red'
'Little Goblin Red'
'Nana'
Smaller 5 ft tall
'Red Sprite'
Pollinated by: 'Jim Dandy', 'Raritan'

'Southern Gentleman'
Late blooming male pollinator

'Sparkleberry'
Pollinated by: 'Apollo', 'Southern Gentleman', Raritan
'Sunset'
8 ft. tall

'Winter Gold'

Green leaves with tiny white flowers

'Winter Red'

9 ft. tall, pollinated by: 'Apollo', 'Southern Gentleman'

'Afterglow', 'Berry Heavy', 'Berry Nice', 'Bright Horizon', 'Carolina Cardinal', 'Golden Verboom', 'Jim Dandy', 'Jolly Red', 'Little Goblin Red', 'Nana', 'Red Sprite', 'Southern Gentleman', 'Sparkleberry', 'Sunset', 'Winter Gold', 'Winter Red'

Tags:

#deciduous #rain garden #native tree #nectar plant #salt tolerant #yellow leaves #winter interest #tsc #fall interest #year-round interest #showy fruits #stream banks #specialized bees #fire low flammability #NC native #deer resistant #bushy #children's garden #pond garden #playground plant #edible fruits #pollinator plant #Braham Arboretum #fantz #larval host plant #food source fall #food source nectar #food source pollen #Coastal FACW #Piedmont Mountains FACW #fall color yellow #wet soils tolerant #bird friendly #nectar plant late spring #food source soft mast fruit #butterfly friendly #nectar plant midspring #tsc-s #bee friendly #winter fruits #Audubon #shrub borders #landscape plant sleuths course #hedge #wildlife friendly #cpp #hs111 #hs303

ilex verticillata fruit and leaves — fruit and leaves Nacho 13 CC BY 2.0

Color illustrations of the technical details of this species. — Ilex verticillata John Tobe CC BY-NC 4.0

Ilex verticillata in container — in container Superior National Forest CC BY 2.0

Ilex verticillata orange berries — orange berries James Steakley CC BY-SA 3.0

Ilex verticillata — Fruit detail Kerry Woods CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Ilex verticillata leaves and flowers — leaves and flowers SB Johnny CC BY-SA 3.0

Ilex verticillata leaves and berries — leaves and berries Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz CC BY-SA 4.0

Ilex verticillata male flowers — male flowers Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org CC BY 3.0

ilex verticulata in fall in Moore County — in fall in Moore County Susan Strine CC BY 2.0

Ilex verticillata in summer in Moore County — Leaves in summer in Moore County Susan Strine CC BY 2.0

Ilex verticillata 'Bright Horizon' in fruit Tom Potterfield CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

ilex verticillata berries with street lights in December — berries with street lights in December Rodger Evans CC BY-ND 2.0

ilex verticillata fruit in snow — Fruits provide winter interest. Plant Image Library CC-BY-SA 2.0

ilex verticillata fruit in snow and ice — fruit in snow and ice Kristine Paulus CC BY 2.0

ilex verticulata's form in the fall in Moore County — Form with yellow leaves in the fall in Moore County Susan Strine CC BY 2.0

Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red' Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Form Close-up Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Fruit and Leaf Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Fruit and Leaf Close-up Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Jolly Red' Fruit Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Jolly Red' Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Jolly Red' Fruit and Leaf Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Winter Red' Full form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

foliage and berries, winter, Catawba County NC Bob Peterson CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Form - September - Warren Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY 4.0