Shopping cart

Details

Common Name: Winterberry ‘Berry Heavy'
Latin Name: Ilex verticillata ‘berry heavy'

Sun, Pt. Shade

Zone:  3
Height:  2 - 2.5 m
Width:  2 - 2.5 m
Special Features:  Red berries Fall, Fall colour, Winter interest, Attracts birds, Deer resistant, Cut branches

Description: Proven Winners brand

Also known as deciduous holly, the female shrubs are smothered with red berries for great Fall colour and Winter interest. One male shrub will pollinate up to 5 female shrubs. Plant the male up to 50' away from the female for good pollination, if you like as it is not as showy without berries. Plant Mr. Poppins®, winterberry as a pollinator, or ‘Jim Dandy’ - a widely-grown older selection, is suitable. Give the shrubs a couple of years to establish before expecting abundant berries. A drought condition may cause berries to fall prematurely.

Adaptable to wet soils, does well in light and heavy soils. A great choice for planting in saturated areas. It is best to avoid pruning winterberry hollies, except to remove whole branches for cut flowers or other decorating, as they are slow growing. Regular pruning or cutting back will impact the number of flowers and the number of berries it produces. Very old branches can be pruned to the ground in early Spring which allows younger branches to develop. According to the Humane Society of America, Ilex berries can be toxic to pets.