Close-up of bright green serrated leaves on a shrub with a dirt path background behind.

Young green-leafed tree in a black plastic pot on a dirt lot with construction-like soil and distant trees in the background.

Close-up of bright green glossy leaves on a woody shrub in sunlight, with a blurred garden background

Winter Red Winterberry

Bright Winter Berries
Native Shrub Appeal
Moist Site Friendly

Our Guarantee Customer Reviews

#7 Container

$86.00

4 in stock

Size

Clear

Add installation for only _ per item!

$86.00

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We guarantee that your plants and trees will arrive happy and healthy. If you’re not satisfied after receiving your trees and plants, we’ll replace them at no cost to you. Trees and plants are living organisms and require care, maintenance, and protection to survive, root in, and establish properly. Trees that do not survive despite receiving the proper care, maintenance, and protection within the first year will be considered for a one-time replacement. If you purchased plants outside of your growing zone recommendation, or have not properly cared for your new plants as described in your welcome letter, your purchase won’t be covered by our Grasshopper guarantee.
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Grasshopper Gardens offers free home delivery to customers in our local service areas. Experience the convenience of having your plants delivered straight to your home, free of charge, saving you time and effort.

Our local delivery area reaches as far north as Schroon Lake, south to Voorheesville, Glenmont, and East Greenbush areas, parts of Fulton and Montgomery counties, much of Washington County, and all areas in between. If you have questions on local delivery, give us a call at

518-793-9623.
In Stock
518-793-9623

Winter Red Winterberry

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

Winter Red Winterberry

Winter Red Winterberry is a native deciduous holly valued for brilliant red winter berries, rounded branching, and excellent seasonal impact. This female cultivar brings bold color to shrub borders, rain gardens, naturalized areas, and winter landscapes after its green foliage has dropped.

Why choose Winter Red Winterberry?

Choose Winter Red Winterberry for its heavy red berry display, adaptable landscape use, and dependable cold-season beauty. This rounded native shrub provides structure from spring through fall, then becomes especially showy in winter when clusters of bright berries stand out on bare stems. It is ideal for moist sites, mixed hedges, wildlife-friendly gardens, and seasonal cut branches. For fruit production, plant near a compatible male winterberry such as Southern Gentleman.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’
Common Name: Winter Red Winterberry
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub

Winter Red Winterberry Additional Information

Winter Red Winterberry produces small, understated whitish flowers in late spring to early summer, followed by the vivid red berries that make this cultivar so valuable. Because winterberries are dioecious, this female selection needs a compatible male pollinator blooming nearby to set fruit. When pollinated, the berries mature in fall and often remain into winter, creating standout color for snowy landscapes, naturalized beds, and holiday cut stems.

Its medium-green leaves provide a full, leafy presence during the growing season before turning yellow and dropping in autumn. The bare branches then reveal the berry clusters, giving Winter Red Winterberry its signature winter interest. Use it in rain gardens, moist borders, native plantings, pond edges, mixed screens, or as a specimen where its seasonal transformation can be appreciated. Prune in early spring only as needed to shape or remove older stems.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant Winter Red Winterberry in full sun to partial shade, choosing a spot with moist, acidic, organic-rich soil. Set the root ball level with the surrounding soil, backfill with native soil amended with compost if needed, and water thoroughly after planting.

2. Watering: Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, especially through warm or dry periods. Once established, Winter Red Winterberry performs best where natural soil moisture is reliable, such as rain gardens, low borders, and areas near water features.

3. Mulching: Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch over the root zone to help conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and support healthy roots. Keep mulch slightly away from the main stems.

4. Pruning: Prune in early spring before new growth begins. Light shaping is usually enough, but older stems can be selectively removed to refresh the plant while preserving its naturally rounded form.

Related Resources

FAQs

Does Winter Red Winterberry need a male pollinator?
Yes. Winter Red Winterberry is a female winterberry holly and needs a compatible male winterberry planted nearby to produce berries. Southern Gentleman is commonly used as a pollinator for this cultivar.
How large does Winter Red Winterberry grow?
Winter Red Winterberry typically grows about 6–8 feet tall and wide, forming a rounded, multi-stemmed shrub. Mature size can vary with site conditions, pruning, soil moisture, and climate.
Where should I plant Winter Red Winterberry?
Plant it in full sun to partial shade with moist, acidic soil. It works especially well in rain gardens, pond edges, mixed shrub borders, native gardens, and naturalized hedges.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Lush Foliage
Full Sun
Watering

Mature Height	Small: Up to 15 ft
Mature Spread	5-10 ft
Growth Rate	Moderate, Slow
Botanical Name	Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red'
Bloom Time	Early Summer
Deer Resistant	Usually
Family	Aquifoliaceae
Flower Color	White
Hardiness Zones	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Light Needs	Full Sun
Maintenance	Low
Size	#7 Container

Green map of the United States with state boundaries outlined in black, all states shaded in green, on a white background.

Growing Zones 3-9 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -40)

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