How to identify Common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

How to identify Common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Common winterberry, also known as Winterberry holly, Coralberry, False Alder

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.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Shrub

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Common winterberry

Distinct red berries with black terminal dots.

Pubescent leaf veins with impressed texture.

Small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers.

Bright red berries with black pit scar.

Olive to purplish-brown stem with lenticels.

Detailed Traits of Common winterberry

Leaf Features

The leaves of common winterberry are deciduous, simple, and alternate, ranging from 1.5-4 inches (3.8-10 cm) in length. They are obovate to oblong-ovate with a smooth texture, acuminate tips, and cuneate bases. The leaves exhibit a double serrated margin and are pubescent on the veins beneath, which helps in identification. These foliage characteristics, including their overall shape and serration, make them distinctive.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

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Flower Features

Common winterberry features relatively inconspicuous greenish-white flowers appearing in the leaf axils in late spring. The flowers, blooming from April to June, typically have a modest size. Each flower is composed of small petals arranged in a simple, unshowy manner. These flowers, if properly pollinated, result in the production of bright red berries that are about 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter in late summer to fall. The subtle coloration and modest size make them less prominent but vital for plant identification.

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Stem Features

The stem of common winterberry is characterized by its olive-brown to purplish-brown color, providing a distinct visual cue for identification. The stems are lenticelled, featuring small, raised pores that facilitate gas exchange. Typically, the stems exhibit a smooth texture and are moderately thick, ensuring robust support for the plant. The branching pattern is generally upright and somewhat sparse, allowing easy observation of individual branches. These distinctive features make the stem of common winterberry identifiable and visually appealing to plant enthusiasts.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of common winterberry is a vibrant bright red berry-like drupe found predominantly on female plants, with a stark visual appeal especially when set against bare branches in winter. These roughly spherical fruits are small, typically less than 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) in diameter, and mature between August and December. The surface of the fruit is smooth, and a distinctive black 'dot,' or pit scar, is present at the terminal end. The striking color and persistent nature of the fruit make it a notable feature during the drab winter months.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Common winterberry and Their Similar Plants

Common holly vs. Common winterberry: What's The Difference?

Common holly (Ilex aquifolium) is an evergreen tree or shrub, recognized by the characteristic shape of its leaves and bright red berries. Its natural habitat is understories of oak and beech forests. Common holly is widely used in landscaping in temperate regions. Thick crown and prickly leaves make this plant excellent for hedges.

Japanese holly vs. Common winterberry: What's The Difference?

Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) is an evergreen shrub native to China, Japan, and Korea. Japanese holly is a flowering plant, and its flowers transition into berries during summer. This plant is popularly planted as an ornamental shrub and can be grown as a Bonsai tree.

Chinese holly vs. Common winterberry: What's The Difference?

Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) is an evergreen shrub native to China and Korea. The chinese holly is often grown ornamentally in gardens and is considered easy to grow and maintain. The chinese holly bears fruits that are thought to be superior to other holly species.

American holly vs. Common winterberry: What's The Difference?

Ilex opaca, commonly known as american holly, is a medium-sized evergreen tree, commonly found in southeastern areas of North America as an understory tree in humid forests. Its bright red fruits are poisonous to humans but are a very important source of food for numerous species of birds.

Yaupon vs. Common winterberry: What's The Difference?

Yaupon is a small tree or large shrub native to the southeastern United States. It is known for its small, evergreen leaves and its small, white flowers that bloom in the spring. The tree produces small, black berries that are favored by a variety of birds. In the garden, yaupon is often used as a hedge or border plant due to its dense growth habit and its ability to tolerate trimming. In addition to its practical uses in the garden, yaupon has a long history of use by Native American tribes, who used the plant for medicinal purposes and as a source of caffeine. The leaves of the plant can be brewed into a tea that is similar in flavor to black tea.

Inkberry vs. Common winterberry: What's The Difference?

Inkberry (Ilex glabra) is a species native to the eastern United States. Inkberry is valued for its flavorful floral blossoms which are used as commercial ingredients in honey. Its leaves can be turned into a tea which is popular in East Asia.

Possumhaw vs. Common winterberry: What's The Difference?

Possumhaw is a deciduous shrub that can grow to tree-like dimensions in the right conditions. The leaves are a dark green and the fruits are red, shiny, and round with a diameter of 4 to 8 mm. Only female plants produce these berries.

Long-stalk holly vs. Common winterberry: What's The Difference?

The branches are gray the leaves are 1 to 2 cm long and the petiole is long. The leaves alternate the leaves are oval slightly leathery shiny and generous in appearance. The front surface is dark green and smooth the back surface is slightly pale and the middle rib protrudes. The edges are smooth but wavy. Tree height grows up to 3-7 meters. The flowering period is around spring-summer and is dioecious. The female flowers grow singly on the axils and the male flowers gather a small number of small white flowers in the inflorescence. The fruit hangs with a handle of 5 to 6 cm is spherical with a diameter of about 7 mm and ripens red in fall.

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Key Facts About Common winterberry

Attributes of Common winterberry

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Shrub

Plant Height

1 m to 5 m

Spread

1.8 m to 3 m

Leaf Color

Green

Yellow

Flower Size

5 mm

Flower Color

White

Green

Fruit Color

Red

Burgundy

Orange

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Scientific Classification of Common winterberry

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

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Distribution Map of Common winterberry

Common winterberry is native to central and eastern US and Canada, growing near lakes and ponds, in swamps, and along riverbanks. Common winterberry is commonly grown as an ornamental plant in the US.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

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A Comprehensive Guide to Common winterberry How to Grow and Care for Common winterberry