Winterberry Holly
(Ilex verticillata)

Plant Preference/Growing Conditions:

A winterberry plant is slow-growing and forms a multi-stemmed, dense shrub that's usually 5 to 15 feet tall. Winterberry holly should be planted in a part to full sun location, and does best with well-draining soil, although this plant will tolerate extra moisture. You can conduct a soil test to check that your soil is acidic enough to grow these – it should be in the 3.5 to 6.0 pH range.

Growth Habit/Description:

3-15 ft tall, 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. 

Bloom Season:

Winter is the season where holly shows off its best, beautiful berries and shiny evergreen foliage. And yet, winter can also be holly's most challenging season

Fall and/or Winter Interest?

Yes. The bright red berries bloom in late spring but last throughout the winter.

Host Plant for Caterpillars?  

Yes. The Winterberry is a host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly.

Other Known Ecological Value? 

Yes. Winterberry serves as a larval host for Henry's Elfin butterfly (Microtia elva) and also attracts butterflies and bees. Bees are important pollinators of winterberry flowers. Winterberry Holly's small flowers appear in June and attract native pollinators like bumble bees, mining bees, sweat bees, small carpenter bees, and plasterer bees.

Origin of Name: Winterberry holly is aptly named for the abundant shiny red berries that adorn this small tree throughout the winter.

Related Plant Species: Ilex glabra  is a similar native holly species, but is semi-evergreen rather than evergreen and produces black rather than red berries. 

Use For Food/Medicine:

Native Americans use the bark and leaves of the winterberry plant to treat a variety of ailments. Winterberry earned its nickname fever bush because Native Americans use the bark to treat fever, internal parasites, and liver ailments. To put it simply, the berries of the holly plant are toxic—not only to dogs, but also to other animals and children.