Transformational Gardening

Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata): Images

Date Location Notes Images
September 18, 2010 Southeastern, New Hampshire Winterberry bushes are in the same “Holly” genus (Ilex) as Inkberry (Ilex glabra) and Mountain Holly (Ilex mucronata). Winterberry is known for its bright red berries that add a firey color to the landscape, especially after the leaves fall off the bush in the Fall. The berries stay on the bush all Winter.

The leaves are alternate and grow densely on the branches. The margins are sharply-toothed. The fruit is bright red and glossy -- only present on the female plants. The fruit is held close to the stem, singly or in pairs. The bark is brown to dark gray and is smooth with some lenticels (pores).

The berries are not edible for humans, but birds will eat them.
Date Location Notes Images
September 18, 2010 Southeastern, New Hampshire These images were taken of a Common Winterberry bush several miles from the pictures above.
Date Location Notes Images
June 22, 2012 Southeastern, New Hampshire Key:
  • Flowers (calyx + corolla) with 4 to 8 petals.
  • Leaf blades thinner, herbaceous, deciduous.
  • Flowers on 1-4 mm peduncles (not 8-16 mm). Sepals ciliate (but I could not tell from the pictures).
  • Flowers with 5 to 8 petals.