Winter Red Female Winterberry Holly – 3 Gallon Pot

If you love berries you’re gonna love the Winter Red Holly. When pollinated by a male, this easy-to-grow North American native beauty produces a stunning profusion of large (3/8-inch diameter) bright red berries that nearly cover the branches all winter long on an upright rounded shrub 6 to 8 feet tall. She loses her leaves for the winter so the brilliant berries can have the stage. Then in spring she clothes herself in lustrous dark green leaves that are about 3 to 5 inches long. In the leaf axils, somewhat inconspicuous creamy white flowers appear in late spring, which are followed by the berries.

Note:  In order to produce a bumper crop of berries on a female winterberry holly, you must have a male plant for pollination. One male deciduous holly will pollinate up to five female plants that are growing within 100 feet of the male. Southern Gentleman and Apollo are two suitable super studs for Winter Red,

Growing 6 to 8 feet tall and equally as wide, these two deciduous hollies provide year round interest as accents in smaller gardens spaces or home foundation plantings or grouped in shrub borders, sunny woodland borders, native plant areas or bird gardens. Makes a spectacular hedge and is excellent for use in moist areas or along the banks of streams, ponds and other bodies of water. A fine addition to bird gardens, berry gardens, red color theme gardens and native habitats.

Winterberry hollies are very easy to grow in consistently moist to wet acidic soils of average or better fertility. They are adaptable to both light and heavy soils and grow well in poorly drained soils including boggy, wet conditions. Generally one male winterberry holly will be sufficient for pollinating 5 female plants. Flowers are born on new growth so you can prune to shape in late winter or early spring.