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Winterberry

Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is a deciduous shrub that is native to the eastern U.S. It is a great addition to the landscape because it produces bright red berries that persist through the entire winter and into spring. Winterberry holly leaves are dark green and elliptical, about two to three inches long. Greenish-white flowers appear on female plants in spring, which, if properly pollinated by a male plant, produce a dense crop of bright red berries in the fall. A slow-growing shrub with a rounded upright growth habit, winterberry typically grows 3 to 15 feet tall and readily suckers and spreads to form large thickets. It is generally planted in late summer to early fall, though spring planting is usually successful, as well. Winterberry holly is often associated with the Christmas holiday season and their berry-laden stems are used to add color to evergreen arrangements. Description from The Spruce

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Winterberry

Winterberry fast facts

Scientific Name

Ilex verticillata

Family

Aquifoliaceae

Garden Type

Anywhere

Wildlife

Birds

Native Plant Region

North America

Light needs

Filtered, Full Sun

Water Needs

Wet

Plant Type

Flowering, Perennial, Shrub

Bloom Color(s)

Green, White

Height

10 + feet

Width

10+ feet

Months in Bloom

June, July

Safe Beneath Power Lines?

Yes
winter berry

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Capitol Hill Seed Library

Gardeners can check out seeds for free from the library to plant. Then after harvest, gardeners bring seeds back to the library for others to enjoy in future growing seasons.

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