How to Grow and Care for Common winterberry

Common winterberry, also known as Winterberry holly, Black alder, Coralberry, Swamp Holly

The common winterberry is appreciated for its bright red berries and is relatively easy to maintain. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires consistently moist, acidic soil. Special care points include ensuring the presence of both male and female plants for successful berry production, and protecting it from leaf spot and powdery mildew. Regular pruning after flowering maintains a healthy shape and promotes more prolific berry growth in the subsequent season.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Common winterberry

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	5-6.5
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	8-9

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Varieties of Common winterberry

Common winterberry 'Red Sprite'

Common winterberry 'Red Sprite' is a common Winterberry, a member of the holly family that produces a striking abundance of bright red berries in the fall and winter seasons. This particularly abundant fruition sets it apart from its parent plant and explains its name. Common winterberry 'Red Sprite' grows to a height of 1.5 m, so it's much smaller than the original plant. Gardeners favor it as it's hardy and grows well in colder climates.

Common winterberry 'Wildfire'

Common winterberry 'Wildfire' is a much-loved cultivar of winterberry, known also as feverbark, black alder or swamp winterberry. This variant produces small white flowers followed by red berries. The contrast between these and the green foliage is truly delightful. This is a female plant, which needs a male cultivar in order to fertilize it and make berries.

Common winterberry 'Winter Gold'

Common winterberry 'Winter Gold' (Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold') is a shorter female cultivar of winterberry (Ilex verticillata) named for the orange-yellow berries it produces throughout the winter months and into spring; these berries attract many species of birds but the tree as a whole is not popular among gardeners as other cultivars have more attractive and prominent flowers.

Common winterberry 'Winter Red'

A cultivar of Winterberry, common winterberry 'Winter Red' is considered among the most desirable winterberries because this cultivar produces an unusual abundance of bright red fruits. The berries appear from autumn throughout winter, enlivening the landscape when much else is withered. This cultivar has been awarded an Award of Garden Merit by the UK's Royal Horticultural Society.

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More General Info About Common winterberry

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Quickly Identify Common winterberry

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Common winterberry is a deciduous shrub recognized for its ornamental red berries, each marked with a distinct terminal black dot. The plant typically reaches a height and width of 3 to 15 feet (0.9 to 4.5 meters) and 3 to 12 feet (0.9 to 3.6 meters), respectively. It bears leaves that are serrate, a trait most conspicuous along the margins. A notable characteristic for identification is the pubescence of the leaf veins on the underside, paired with the veins being impressed, creating a slightly textured feel.