Winterberry Holly: A Native Holly
with a Breathtaking Berry Display
Monday November 26, 2007
Gardeners know there is always something to look at in the garden; there’s just less to see in certain seasons. One stunner for winter interest is Winterberry or Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata). This is a deciduous holly that drops its leaves and wows you with an abundance of colorful berries. That’s right, a non-evergreen holly that’s most attractive in winter. Tim Wood, Resident Horticulturist and Plantsman for Spring Meadows Nursery as well as the Product Development and Marketing Manager responsible for selecting varieties that are marketed under the Proven Winners ColorChoice brand, obviously knows and loves winterberry holly in all its forms and he shares his favorites and suggestions for your yard here. Then read more about growing winterberry shrubs from About's Landscaping Guide, David Beaulieu.
Photo: Winterberry 'Aurantiaca' ©Proven Winners ColorChoice Used with Permission.
Comments
Hi everyone from a novice,
I read the article on the winterberries. I have been growing a “pair” for about three years now and they are still relatively short ( ~ 4′), but the female is laddened with berries. If I chooose to cut them (undecided) would I hurt the plant and how deep should I go on the branch ?
Thanks !
Winterberries fruit best when left unpruned, but you won’t really hurt it if you cut a few branches for display. Everyone does. They may not put on such a great show next year, but they’re very hardy.
You can cut a branch back by half or even 3/4s, but the plant is going to look odd for awhile and it’s going to send out a flush of new growth in the spring. You might want to try just cutting selecting branches and shaping the plant as you go. Try to cut back to a node or bump on the branch.