Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Ilex verticillata

Winterberry
Ilex verticillata

Winterberry loses its foliage in winter, but that’s a good thing, because there’s nothing quite so stunning as the silvery, leafless branches studded from end to end with red berries. Add the branches to holiday bouquets or just leave them for the birds. Our winged friends may not pay much attention to this shrub in the early days of fall, but well into winter they’ll come and strip the stems clean.

Remember that only female plants produce berries and that both a male and a female plant must be present for fruit production to occur. Dwarf male cultivars are readily available at nurseries, and these little fellows can easily be hidden in the background, somewhere behind the larger, showier females. A single male can pollinate up to six females.

Family: Aquifoliaceae (Holly Family)

Description: Large deciduous shrub or small tree with 1 to 3", elliptical, toothed leaves. Tiny white flowers bloom in spring. ¼", bright red, berry-like drupes are available from early fall through winter. Fall leaf color is yellow.

Size: 6 to 10’ high and wide.

Habit: Tends to sucker and form colonies.

Growth Rate: Slow.

Light: Full sun to part shade.

Planting and Care: Plant in wet or well-drained acid soil.

Ornamental Value: Assets include yellow fall color and bright red berries in winter.

Landscape Usage: Use in woodland gardens or mixed shrub borders.

Wildlife Benefits: Fruits are eaten by many birds, including eastern bluebirds, mockingbirds, American robins, brown thrashers, cedar waxwings, and wild turkeys.

Native Habitat: Found primarily in the Piedmont and mountains in floodplains, swamps, and moist upland woods.

Propagation: Semi-hardwood cuttings, seed.

Also known as Black Alder, Coralberry, Michigan Holly

Text and photo by Leslie Kimel, Georgia Wildlife Federation