Add a Pop of Winter Color with Winterberry Holly

Looking for something to brighten up a drab winter landscape? Nervously anticipating grey as far as the eye can see? Say no more, because winterberry holly is here to save the day. This native shrub remains covered in bright red berries after the leaves have yellowed and dropped. As these berries soften, they provide wintertime snacks for birds, and the berry-laden stems also look beautiful when cut for dried branch arrangements.

To make sure your winterberry produces dramatic berries year after year, be sure to plant it near its friends. As a dioecious shrub, winterberry needs a pollinator within about 50 feet to ensure proper fruiting. For instance, the compact Little Goblin Red female should be planted near Little Goblin Guy male to ensure a good show of berries.

Aside from the appeal of the vivid berries, winterberry is a low-maintenance workhorse in the landscape. The shiny green foliage looks great in mass plantings or as a screen planting and requires very little, if any, pruning. What’s even better is that this easy to grow shrub isn’t extremely picky about planting site as long as it gets about 6 hours of sun a day. Have a poorly drained spot in your garden? Winterberry is perfectly happy in boggy conditions and drier soils alike.

Stop by Knecht’s and check out our selection of winterberry holly including the dwarf Little Goblin Red (pair with Little Goblin Guy), the medium Berry Poppins (Mr. Poppins), or the tall Berry Heavy (Mr. Poppins). If it’s winter color you’re after- they’re all sure to please!

Submitted by Simone Schneegans