Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00000765
11/12/99

Ilex verticillata--Michigan Holly, Winterberry


Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Height: 8 ft Spread: 8 ft Form: rounded
Type: deciduous shrub
Annual Growth Rate: less than 12 inches
Fruits: Red, yellow

Comments: Winterberry's bright red berries provide color
in early winter (Vis. 6) after the leaves have fallen off.
The plant grows in sun or partial shade and a rich, well-
drained soil, although it tolerates swampy areas.
Winterberry is dioecious (Vis. 7), so both male and female
plants are needed for fruit (Vis. 8) production. The fruits
are often eaten by birds.

Cultivars: Some of the cultivars are hybrids between I.
verticillata and I. serrata. Eggerss and Hasselkus
suggest that there are both northern and southern types of
I. verticillata. Northern types are smaller and more
compact than the open and leggy southern types. Select
northern types for northern areas.
'Afterglow' - A 3- to 6-foot tall female cultivar with
orange-red fruit (Vis. 1).
x 'Apollo' - A large plant, to 10 feet, male, used as a
pollinator for 'Bonfire' and 'Sparkleberry'.
'Aurantiaca' - A female with red fruits that change to
golden orange. A 4-foot, compact form.
x 'Bonfire' - A large, vigorous shrub with small red
fruit in clusters.
'Bright Horizon' - Vigorous and upright, large red
berries are produced in tight clusters.
'Cacapon' - Red fruit (Vis. 2) and dark green foliage,
more upright than 'Afterglow'. 'Jim Dandy' is a
suitable pollinator.
'Early Male' - A male used to pollinate 'Afterglow' and
'Red Sprite'.
'Fairfax' - A slower grower than the species. Plants are
8 feet tall and have red berries.
x 'Harvest Red' - Heavy production of red fruit.
'Jim Dandy' - A male often used as a pollinator for
'Afterglow', 'Aurantiaca', Berry Nice, 'Cacapon',
'Oosterwijk', 'Red Sprite', and 'Shaver'.
'Late Male' - A male selection used to pollinate
'Winter Red'. Probably a southern type.
'Oosterwijk' - Bright red berries persist longer than
those of other cultivars. 'Jim Dandy' is a suitable
pollinator.
'Raritan Chief' - A male selection with a low, dense,
spreading habit.
'Red Sprite' ('Compacta', 'Nana') - Multi-stemmed
shrub, compact with large red fruit (Vis. 3).
'Select' - A female that produces heavy crops of
berries.
'Shaver' - An upright form with large red fruit.
'Southern Gentleman' - A male pollinator for 'Winter
Red' and 'Select'.
x 'Sparkleberry' - A female that may reach 12 feet with
good fruit (Vis. 4) production.
'Southern Gentleman' - A male used to pollinate
'Cacapon', 'Sparkleberry', 'Winter Red' and 'Winter
Gold'.
'Spravy' (Berry Heavy TM) - Large, red berries are
produced in large numbers.
'Spriber' (Berry Nice TM) - Excellent production of red
fruits. Use 'Southern Gentleman' as a pollinator.
'Stoplight' - Large, shiny, dark red berries, plant 8
feet tall.
'Sunset' - A female with large red fruits. Performed
poorly in Wisconsin for Eggerss and Hasselkus.
'Winter Gold' - Yellow fruits.
Winter Red(R)(Plant Patent 2991) - Grows to 7 feet with
brilliant red fruit (Vis. 5). Plants grown in
Wisconsin had a tall, leggy habit and were inferior to
other cultivars.

References for Cultivars: Spring Meadow Nursery 1999,
Sipmson Nursery Company 1986, Princeton Nurseries 1999,
Weston Nurseries 1994, Lake County Nursery 1999, Weston
Nurseries 1999 Bailey Nurseries 1999, Ray Wiegand's
Nursery 1997, White Flower Farm 1999, Wayside Gardens
1999, Studebaker Nurseries 1999, Sheridan Nurseries 1999,
Scarff's Nursery 1999, Gee Farms 1999, Midwest Groundcovers
1999, Willoway Nurseries 1999, Carlton Plants 1999. Eggerss,
M.L. and E. R. Hasselkus. 1992, Winterberries, American
Nurseryman 176(12):115-125.


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