Winterberry

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Winterberry is a deciduous holly prized for its brilliant red berries that persist through the winter, offering striking color and essential food for wildlife. Native to wetlands, streambanks, and woodland edges in North America, this adaptable shrub thrives in moist conditions but grows well in a variety of landscapes. Its vibrant berries create stunning winter interest after the leaves drop, making it an excellent choice for naturalistic plantings, native gardens, and mixed hedgerows. For fruit production, male and female plants are required.

About our plants: These are seed-grown plants of unknown sex, not selected male or female cultivars. Individual plants may be male or female, and berries are not guaranteed. Growing several seedlings may improve the chance of having both sexes, but does not guarantee it.

Key Characteristics

Vibrant Red Berries for Winter Interest
Winterberry's bright red berries provide a dramatic contrast against the winter landscape, persisting long after the leaves fall. These berries are not only visually striking but also an important winter food source for birds like cedar waxwings, robins, and bluebirds.

Essential Wildlife Value
Beyond providing berries for birds, Winterberry offers nesting cover for small wildlife. Pollinators, such as native bees and flies, are drawn to its small, inconspicuous flowers in early summer. Pair this shrub with other native plants to create a rich, biodiverse habitat.

Perfect for Wet Areas and Rain Gardens
Naturally found in wetlands, Winterberry thrives in moist to wet soils, making it ideal for rain gardens, streambank restoration, or planting in areas prone to standing water. It also tolerates occasional dry periods once established, showing impressive adaptability.

Attractive Landscape Uses
Winterberry works beautifully in mass plantings, natural hedges, or mixed borders. Use it in native pollinator gardens, wildlife-friendly hedgerows, or as a backdrop for smaller plants. Its dense habit and ornamental appeal make it a standout addition to any winter landscape.

Male and female plants for fruit set
Female winterberries need pollen from a nearby male winterberry with overlapping bloom to produce berries. Male plants do not bear fruit. Because these are seedlings of unknown sex and bloom timing, we cannot supply a guaranteed male/female pairing. Sex can be identified when plants flower.

Product Details

• Native Range: Eastern and Central North America
• Plant Life Cycle: Perennial, Deciduous Shrub
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Requirements: Medium to wet soils; prefers acidic conditions
• Mature Height: 3–15 feet; seedling size varies
• Bloom Time: May to June
• Bloom Color: Small, inconspicuous white to greenish-white flowers
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Use winterberry for a native shrub layer in rain gardens, moist borders and wildlife plantings. Berry production depends on plant sex and compatible pollination; these seedlings are not sold as guaranteed berry-bearing plants.