Winter Red Winterberry

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-10 Feet

Mature Spread

8-10+ Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Create a festive vibe, enjoy bold wintertime color, or simply ensure birds have a steady supply of food during the winter when you plant the Winter Red Winterberry. Also known as Ilex verticillata, this perennial shrub boasts greenish-white flowers that bloom in late spring or early summer. Glossy green foliage has a leathery texture. The flowers are replaced with bright red berries that provide a burst of color during the fall and winter. This is a deciduous shrub, so the berries stand out on bare branches for a stark visual. Winter Red Winterberry is a female plant, and a late-blooming male plant is necessary for the flowers to be pollinated and berries to develop.

Use this tall, upright, multi-stemmed shrub to establish a hedge, privacy screen, or border. Winterberry is a tolerant plant that can handle various conditions, and it is very easy to maintain. 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.

Winter Red Winterberry Care

Winterberry needs full sun to partial shade, and the soil should be acidic to neutral, rich, and moist but well-drained. This shrub prefers damp conditions and will need one inch of water per week. Feed Winter Red Winterberry with a balanced fertilizer each spring or top-dress the soil with organic compost.

Prune the plant to maintain its shape and size in the early spring. Remove suckers as they emerge to keep the plant manageable and ensure energy is directed into the plant and not divided amongst new plants.

Winter Red Winterberry Spacing

This large, upright plant will grow 8 to 10 feet high and wide. Plants should be spaced 7 to 9 feet apart.