Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Bareroot preorder details:
This will be a 2-3 foot bareroot shrub. Instructions for planting bare root plants can be found here. Shrubs will be available for pickup in late April 2027.

Species details:
Winterberry is a deciduous shrub with an upright, rounded form and dark green leaves that turn yellow in fall. Small white flowers bloom in late spring and early summer, followed by bright red berries that cling to the bare branches through fall and winter. Winterberry grows best in moist to wet soils and is a good choice for rain gardens, pond edges, and naturalized plantings.

Winterberry provides food and habitat for a variety of wildlife. Its flowers attract bees and other pollinators, while its berries provide food for birds, including cedar waxwings, robins, and bluebirds, as well as small mammals. The berries are an important winter food source, especially when other options are scarce. Its dense branching also provides cover and nesting habitat for birds.

Both male and female plants are needed for berry production. Our plants are UNSEXED, meaning they are not yet old enough to identify as male or female. Ordering multiple plants increases the chance of having both sexes, but we cannot guarantee that you will receive a mix of male and female plants. To encourage berry production, a male plant must be within approximately 50 feet of a female plant.

Sun Exposure: Full, Partial, Shade

Soil Moisture: Wet to Medium

Height: 6-10 feet

Bloom Time: June to July