How to grow winterberry – a shrub for year-round interest and fantastic festive stems

Fall is the perfect time to plant some new shrubs in the garden, while the ground is still warm to work with. One to add to your list this year is winterberry (Ilex verticillata), a beautiful deciduous shrub that has bare branches full of bright red berries in winter.

Not only is it one of the best shrubs with winter berries, but this shrub is a type of holly bush, that also displays beautiful blooms in spring. Unlike common holly (an evergreen shrub), this deciduous shrub loses its deep green leaves in winter to show off its vibrant fruits. It's also native to the US, making it an excellent choice for supporting wildlife and biodiversity.

Once established, this shrub is straightforward to care for, with a few pruning requirements to maintain its health and vigour. Here, gardening experts share their tips an tricks on how to grow winterberry successfully.

Key considerations for growing winterberry

Before jumping in with how to grow winterberry, there are a few important things to consider to determine if it's the right shrub for your yard.

Winterberry does best across US hardiness zone 3 to zone 9, and has a height and spread of 8x5 feet You can also expect it to drop its leaves in winter, so it's not necessarily the best choice of shrub for garden privacy. However, it does provide plenty of interest in every season:

'Winterberry shrubs have inconspicuous white flowers in spring that are very attractive and beneficial to bees. In fall, clusters of red berries set along the stems, and will persist into winter,' explains gardening expert Caroline Ervin. 'The stems are wonderful as cut specimens in the fall and around the holidays,' she adds.

With these things in mind, here's what you need to know to grow winterberry in your yard.

Find a winterberry shrub at Nature Hills.

Find a winterberry shrub on Amazon.

Find a winterberry shrub at Walmart.

How to grow winterberry

• Soil: The good news is winterberry is highly adaptable to a wide range of soil types. 'Winterberry naturally grows in boggy or moist soils and is adaptable to many types of soil conditions, though it prefers a slightly acidic, moist organic loam,' Caroline explains. You can make your soil more acidic to support winterberry growth by using this soil amendment from Amazon. If you're unsure of your soil pH, use this soil test kit from Amazon.
• Position: As for lighting, winterberry shrubs need at least six hours of direct sun a day. 'However, it's adaptable enough to tolerate partial shade, so don't fret if it doesn't get all-day sun exposure. A bit of dappled shade could also be appreciated on especially hot days,' says Anastasia Borisevich of Plantum. If your winterberry is struggling to get sunlight exposure, consider pruning neighboring tree branches that are casting shade onto it.
• Watering: With winterberries enjoying moist soils, it's no surprise they thrive with consistent moisture. 'Regular watering is key to its survival, but don't drown it,' Anastasia says You can use this soil moisture meter from Amazon to check if your winterberry needs topping up during particularly hot, dry spells. 'As they naturally grow along ponds and stream beds, in low thickets, and in swamps, winterberry shrubs are excellent additions to rain gardens and garden areas that are consistently moist,' Caroline adds.
• Pruning: Just like pruning a holly bush, it's important to give your winterberry a trim in early spring. Using essential pruning tools (like these pruning shears from Amazon), you should remove dead and diseased stems, and shape the shrub. Doing so in early spring will prepare your winterberry for flowering and new growth. Just make sure to stick to the one third pruning rule when doing this, as to not remove too much of the plant and shock it or stunt its growth.

Caroline Ervin

Caroline is a landscape designer. She has worked with clients since 2007 to install and maintain small and large residential gardens in Washington DC. She has more than 20 years hands-on experience gardening.

Anastasia Borisevich

Anastasia Borisevich is a resident plant expert for the Plantum app, which helps users identify plant species, diagnose their conditions, and get specific care advice. She has three years of experience consulting on botany-related topics for Plantum (formerly NatureID).

FAQs

How do you propagate winterberry?

You can propagate winterberry either by taking softwood cuttings in late spring or hardwood cuttings in fall and winter. For both methods, it can be helpful to use a rooting hormone before inserting cuttings into a well-draining potting soil. Keep the cutting consistently moist and in a bright, warm spot to encourage new growth.

If you're looking for other plants to add to your winter garden this year, consider some of the best winter plants for pots and borders and winter climber ideas, too.