Ilex verticillata (Fr: houx verticillé | En: winterberry holly)

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata
Alternative names: Canada Holly, Black Holly
French: Houx verticillé

Ilex verticillata, or Winterberry, is arguably one of the most stunning native plants in winter. Its brilliant red berries stand out vibrantly against snowy landscapes and are widely used in holiday wreaths and winter decor.

To ensure good fruit production, it’s important to plant more than one individual, including both male and female plants for cross-pollination. Only the female plants bear fruit.

The berries are an important winter food source for overwintering songbirds. Earlier in the season, the flowers bloom in June and July, supporting a wide variety of native bees and other pollinators.

Winterberry grows as a multi-stemmed shrub and thrives in moist to wet soils, making it ideal for rain gardens, wetland edges, or low spots in the landscape. It tolerates full sun to part shade and is an excellent choice for biodiversity-friendly plantings.

Height: 1.5 to 4 m
Bloom time: June to July
Light: Full sun to part shade
Moisture: Moist to wet
Soil: Rich, moist, slightly acidic preferred
Habitat: Wetlands, forest edges, lowlands
Ecological benefits: Supports pollinators in summer, berries feed overwintering birds
Edible: Not edible for humans (berries mildly toxic if consumed)