Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
The elliptical foliage of the Apollo Winterberry starts out with burgundy tips before settling into a consistent shade of green for a fleeting and unexpected pop of color. This deciduous holly, also known as Ilex serrata X verticillata Apollo, is a late-flowering male plant. Greenish-white flowers bloom in the spring. This shrub is ideal for pollinating female cultivars like 'Sparkleberry' and 'Winter Red.'
The Apollo Winterberry makes an excellent hedge or privacy screen as a large shrub. Feature near compatible female cultivars to ensure abundant red berries on the female plants during the winter months. Berries will not grow on the Apollo Winterberry. This plant is native to North America, so it requires very little care once it is acclimated. Grow this hardy shrub as a perennial in USDA zones 3 through 8.
Apollo Winterberry Care
Plant in rich, moist, well-drained soil that has an acidic pH. The ideal location will have full sun to partial shade. The Apollo Winterberry prefers damp conditions and needs about one inch of water per week. This plant isn’t a heavy feeder, but applying balanced fertilizer each spring will promote new growth.
Shape the plant as needed during the early spring before new growth appears. Prioritizing the old growth, remove up to one-third of the growth to keep the plant full. Suckers can be removed as they appear.
Apollo Winterberry Spacing
Apollo Winterberry is a large upright shrub that will top out around 10 to 12 feet and spread 6 to 8 feet. Plants should be spaced 5 to 7 feet apart.
Apollo Winterberry Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 3 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 10-12 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 6-8 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Dark Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Apollo Winterberry
- Botanical Name
- ILEX SERRATA X VERT. 'APOLLO'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!