How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Winterberry Holly

Winterberry hollies are beautiful shrubs all year long. These multi-stemmed shrubs have a beautiful upright growth habit, making slipping them into many different parts of our gardens easy. 

Winterberry holly are beautiful native plants that have many uses in our gardens. From lush and glossy green leaves to bright red or orange berries, this shrub has it all. 

If you want to grow some winterberry holly in your garden, read on! I will get into all of the details you need to plant, grow, and care for winterberry holly successfully.

What Is It?

Winterberry gets its name from its brightly colored berries that appear and last throughout winter. Native to North America, the bark and roots of this shrub were used medicinally by Native Americans to treat various ailments. An old nickname for winterberry was “fever bush,” which it earned from the successful treatment of a wide range of diseases. 

Characteristics

Winterberry is in the holly, or Ilex, genus. Unlike many other hollies, however, winterberry is a deciduous shrub, which means it will drop its leaves in the cooler months. The classically beautiful red berries of the holly genus are present in winterberry, providing tons of winter interest for your garden. 

The foliage of winterberry hollies is deep green with toothed leaves. In the late spring and early summer, these shrubs will produce tiny white flowers, later transforming into beautiful berries. Depending on which winterberry variety you select, the leaves will take on autumn color in shades of purple, orange, or bronze.  

There is one very important thing to remember if you want to add winterberry to your garden. These shrubs are dioecious, meaning you will need to plant both a male and a female winterberry for pollination to occur.

Without pollination, there will be no flowering and, you guessed it, no berries. Selecting a male and female winterberry may seem complicated. Luckily, most garden centers will have plant tags with all the necessary information, but if you’re uncertain, ask for assistance in selecting a partner plant.

Native Area

Winterberry holly is native to North America. It grows nicely in most soil types and tolerates dry and moist conditions. These shrubs will show signs of stress if left to dry out for lengthy periods. 

Planting

Winterberry hollies do not have any special requirements when planting them in your garden beds. 

Transplanting

While selecting your winterberry shrubs at the garden center, you may find them in different-sized containers, as bare root plants, and even balled-and-burlapped. 

1. Dig a hole about twice as deep and as wide as the rootball of your winterberry. 
2. Remove the container or the burlap and inspect the rootball for any potbound roots. If you notice that the roots are potbound, use your hands to break the roots apart gently. This will help ensure that the roots can take up water and nutrients while also helping them establish themselves strongly in the soil. 
3. Position the winterberry in your freshly dug hole, ensuring the plant crown is even with the soil level.
4. Backfill with your garden soil, packing it down gently.
5. Water! These shrubs do not like to dry out, and it is crucial in these early weeks that the soil remains moist. 

How to Grow

This shrub is easy to grow and very easy to care for. Let’s look at what you must do to grow the best winterberry holly possible. 

Light

Winterberry grows well in full sun to partial shade. For the maximum amount of berries, situate your winterberry in an area of your garden where it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight. 

Water

Winterberry grows best in moist soil. Like many other plants, winterberry needs at least one inch of water per week through rainfall or irrigation.

Do not allow these shrubs to dry out. Growing winterberry in dry climates is not advisable unless you are prepared to supplementally water regularly. 

Soil

Hollies, in general, grow best in acidic soil, and winterberry hollies are no different. In addition to the acidity, these shrubs will grow well in heavy or light soils. Winterberry that grows in neutral to alkaline soils will suffer from chlorosis or yellowing of the leaves. 

If you are still determining your soil pH, grab a pH test from a garden center or get a full-blown soil test. 

Amend your soil as needed. In the case of winterberry, using a fertilizer for acid-loving plants will likely do the trick. 

Temperature and Humidity

Winterberry hollies are hardy in zones 3-9. These shrubs will typically grow nicely in these zones and tolerate most conditions. Be wary of planting winterberries in dry areas because these shrubs do not love arid conditions; similarly, be prepared to provide some shade during peak summer heat, if possible.

Fertilizing

Using a basic fertilizer on your winterberries is a great way to boost their health. Using a fertilizer that is specifically for acid-loving plants is even better. This will ensure that the shrubs can take up all the nutrients they receive from the fertilizer and the soil. 

Apply fertilizer once in the spring and again early in the fall. This will result in healthy new growth and dark green and glossy leaves. 

Maintenance

Winterberry is a relatively low-maintenance plant. The flowers, which will make way for the show-stopping berries, form on new growth.

Any pruning you must do should be done in late winter or early spring before any new growth appears. Winterberry is a vigorous grower and should be pruned to maintain size and shape. 

• Using sharp shears, begin by pruning some of the oldest branches down to the ground. 
• To maintain shape and size, remove no more than ⅓ of the branches in one year. This will make sure the plant has ample time to recover. 

Propagation

Propagating winterberries is easiest when done with stem cuttings. You will only need some shears, a container filled with soil, and the cutting itself. 

Cuttings

Before you begin propagating, it is always a great idea to gather all of your supplies. 

1. Anytime from late spring to mid-summer is a great time to take stem cuttings from your winterberry. 
2. Using clean and sharp shears, clip cuttings from a branch of a female winterberry that produced berries last season. These cuttings should be about two inches in length. 
3. Strip all lower sets of leaves from the branch, leaving the top pair intact. 
4. If you wish, dip your cutting into rooting hormone. 
5. Place cutting into moist potting soil.
6. Cover your pot with a plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect. 
7. Place your pot in a bright area with indirect sunlight. Keep the soil moist. 
8. In about one month, your cutting should have produced roots. Your winterberry will be ready to plant in your garden when autumn arrives. 

Popular Varieties

There are plenty of beautifully cultivated winterberry options on the market. Remember the shrub’s size, the berries’ color, and the best partner plant for your female or male winterberry. 

Berry Heavy 

	botanical name Ilex verticillata ‘Berry Heavy’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-8 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

The name of this winterberry is the perfect description of this shrub. ‘Berry Heavy’ produces many berries, arguably more than any other winterberry. 

This large winterberry holly would make an excellent privacy screen or back border of a large foundation garden. Plant ‘Berry Heavy’ with a male variety such as ‘Mr. Poppins’.

Berry Poppins

	botanical name Ilex verticillata ‘FarrowBPop’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

If you are searching for a smaller or dwarf winterberry, ‘Berry Poppins’ is a great option. Its very large berries are bright red and prominent throughout the winter months.

During the growing season, the leaves of this shrub are dark green and toothed. Plant with ‘Mr Poppins’ to enhance the production of berries. 

Little Goblin 

	botanical name Ilex verticillata ‘Little Goblin’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

The ‘Little Goblin’ series has both a red and an orange option. These are smaller or dwarf-sized winterberries, which are great for containers or low-growing hedges. These winterberries also need to be planted with male winterberries. Give ‘Little Goblin Guy’ a try. 

Red Sprite 

	botanical name Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

‘Red Sprite’ is a beautiful variety of winterberry. The leaves are deep green throughout the season. Once the leaves drop, this shrub will be covered in bright red berries.

Growing up to five feet tall, ‘Red Sprite’ makes a lovely hedge or addition to the back border of a foundation garden. Plant with a male winterberry such as ‘Jim Dandy’

Winter Gold 

	botanical name Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-8 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

This variety of winterberry grows quite tall, up to eight feet, producing pinkish-orange berries instead of the classic red you may be accustomed to. The dark green leaves are glossy and will turn a shade of bronze in the fall.  Plant this female variety with a male variety such as ‘Southern Gentleman.’ 

Common Problems

It’s hard to believe that there is a plant on the market as tolerant of pests and diseases as winterberry holly. But it is true! 

Pests

Winterberry has a very high tolerance to most garden pests. You may run into issues with mites or leafminers, but these insects can be prevented by good plant care and, if needed, can be treated with horticultural oil. 

Diseases

Like its resistance to pests, winterberry is rarely challenged by diseases. These shrubs have been known to have a few issues with leaf spot or powdery mildew. Luckily, these diseases are just aesthetic and will go away independently with a few slight changes from you.

• Remember, these diseases will likely only last for one season.
• Look at the winterberry growing conditions. Is it getting enough sun? Powdery mildew loves humid, shady areas of your garden. 
• Check your watering practices. Leaf spot is a fungal disease. Although winterberry loves moist conditions, if you are splashing a lot of water onto the leaves of your shrubs, you could be causing the leaf spot. 
• If you just can’t stand to see your winterberry looking less than its best, head to the garden center and grab some neem. This oil will take care of both of these diseases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Winterberry hollies are the perfect plant if you are seeking year-round interest. The leaves are typically glossy and deep green. Its berries are jewel-toned and prolific, covering the branches and feeding birds all winter. Winterberry is easy to care for and tolerates many growing conditions. Add a few to your foundation planting or woodland edge, or use it as a hedge!