How big does a winterberry bush get?
The winterberry grows to a height of 18–24′ and a spread of 10–12′ at maturity.
Does winterberry need full sun?
Winterberries are quite shade tolerant, but in very dark conditions, flowering and fruiting can be significantly diminished, or may not occur at all. We recommend a minimum of four hours of sun each day, or filtered light throughout the day, for the best display.
Is winterberry a bush or tree?
Winterberry is a large shrub or small tree that can grow up to 20 feet tall. It is multi-stemmed and tends to sucker readily, forming large clumps.
How do you take care of winterberry bushes?
Plant the Winterberry in a large container with good drainage and place it somewhere where it can receive at least a few hours of direct sunlight every day. The Winterberry grows well in damp, neutral soil. Water it with frequency, but do not allow mud to form or water to accumulate on the surface.
Where is the best place to plant winterberry?
In its native setting, winterberry can be found in moist bogs and woodlands. Accordingly, it prefers moist, acidic soils and partial shade to full sun. In a garden setting, though, this plant can adapt to most growing conditions and it is hardy in US Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8.
Do you need a male and female winterberry?
Winterberry hollies are dioecious. In other words, the shrubs are either male or female. Both male and female plants produce flowers, but only fertilized flowers on female winterberry shrubs produce berries. The flowers appear either singly or in small clusters along the stems.
Do winterberry bushes lose their leaves in winter?
Ilex verticillata, commonly known as winterberry holly, is a native shrub that loses its leaves each autumn. After the leaves have turned yellow and dropped, you are left with a breathtaking view of thousands of brightly colored berries clinging to every stem. What a joy to have such color in the middle of winter!
What does winterberry look like in 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.
How do you tell the difference between a male and female winterberry?
Male flowers. Note the yellow stamens and lack of a pistil in the center. Female flowers are pistillate and borne singly or in clusters of three. Notice there are three flowers per cluster.
What grows well with winterberry?
Winterberry pairs well with perennials that like the same sunny or lightly shaded conditions with somewhat moist soil. A mixed planting of daffodils (Narcissus) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) can provide long periods of interest from spring through early to midsummer. Both are generally hardy in zones 3 through 9 or 10.
Is winterberry fast growing?
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.
What is a winterberry bush?
Winterberry shrubs are native to eastern Canada and the eastern half of the United States. Other common names for Ilex verticillata are “black alder,” “false alder” and “fever bush.”.
What is the best winterberry holly shrub?
Information on our best-selling Winterberry Holly Shrubs: Female Winterberry Holly Shrubs: Red Sprite Winterberry Holly: A profusion of bright red berries brighten the winter landscape and provide food for birds. A male pollinator, such as Jim Dandy Holly is required for the berry set.
Where do winterberry trees grow?
Winterberry provides seasonal interest in autumn and early winter when female plants are covered in red, orange or yellow fruit. Winterberry grows wild in acidic soils in forested wetlands or along edges of ponds, lakes and marshes.
Is there a male and female winterberry plant?
This non-fruiting, male winterberry is primarily used as a pollinator. Southern Gentleman Holly: Southern Gentleman Holly is the pollinator of choice for Sparkleberry Holly. The Southern Gentleman Holly is a tall male winterberry that is used to pollinate female winterberry plants.