The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red' is in October and November.
winterberry
Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red'
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’) is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 8 feet tall. It has spreading branches with dark green, glossy leaves. In the summer, it produces small white flowers that give way to clusters of bright red drupes that remain on the plant through the winter months, providing winter interest to the landscape. Its berries can be used to make jam, syrup, and preserves. Winterberry does best in moist soil and partial shade, and can even tolerate wet sites. It is highly deer and rabbit resistant, making it a great addition to wildlife gardens.
Cycle:
Perennial
Watering:
Frequent
Propagation:
Cutting,Layering Propagation,Division,Seed Propagation,Grafting Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
3 - 9
Flowers:
White Flowers
Sun:
Full sun,part shade
Fruits:
red Fruits Ready In Winter
Edible:
Yes
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green,red,purple
Growth Rate:
Low
Maintenance:
Low
Drought Tolerant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Thorny:
Yes
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red') can thrive with moderate watering. Water the plant when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Depending on where you live, this would probably mean watering once every 7 to 10 days. In particularly hot and dry climates, however, you may need to water a bit more frequently (every 5-7 days). During periods of very hot weather, you can water more often to make sure your Winterberry isn't getting too dry. It's also important to water deeply to ensure that the entire root system is getting sufficient moisture.
sunlight
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red') is a vigorous, deciduous shrub that grows best in full sun. It should ideally receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, but it can tolerate some afternoon shade in areas with hot summers. For best results, place Winterberry in an area that offers its foliage direct exposure to the sun in the morning and midday, then provide some afternoon shade as the sun shifts across the sky.
pruning
Prune winterberry (Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red') in late winter or early spring for the healthiest growth and best berry production. Start off by removing all dead, diseased, or otherwise damaged branches, then continue by thinning the branches from the center to create an open canopy. For best results, prune just a few canes at a time and shape the plant so that the air can circulate more freely, which helps prevent disease and pests. Make sure to leave 2 to 3 buds on each cane for new growth and to never prune more than 1-third of the total plant.
Season
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit
Starts Flowering
Winterberry typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May.
