Winter Gold Winterberry

Ilex verticillata (EYE-leks ver-ti-sil-LAH-tah)

Family: Aquifoliaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

‘Winter Gold’ is a female cultivar of winterberry holly. It is a perennial, woody, deciduous tree or shrub and a member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). ‘Winter Gold’ prefers full sun with some afternoon shade and moist to wet soils. It is adaptable to a range of soil textures but all need to have a neutral to acidic pH. It tolerates wet soils, Flowers will appear on new growth, thus if pruning to shape, do so in early spring just before new growth appears. ‘Winter Gold’ is a slow-growing, rounded, woody, multi-stemmed, perennial, deciduous shrub that will reach a height and width of 5 to 8 feet. It is distinguished by a dense, heavy fruiting of orange-yellow berries that appear in late summer and last through winter; however, a pollinizer (pollen donor) is needed to produce fruits. One male winterberry, such as the late-blooming cultivar ‘Southern Gentleman’, is necessary for every 6 to 10 female plants. The foliage is a food source for wildlife including caterpillars, birds, and rabbits. It is seldom damaged by deer. ‘Winter Gold' provides year-round interest and makes an excellent hedge or addition to a rain or winter garden. It does well in pond margins, stream beds, or low-lying areas of the yard. Mass planted or in small groups, it performs well in shrub borders or foundation plantings. Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating. Quick ID Hints: Deciduous shrubby holly with persistent orange berries. Leaves are serrated and veins are pubescent underneath. Leaf veins are impressed on the upper surface of the leaf. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The native holly leafminer, Japanese wax scale, and southern red mites are the most frequently reported pests of hollies in the southeastern United States. Leaf spots and powdery mildew occasionally occur. Plants will show a decline in alkaline soils. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for " Trees, Shrubs and Conifers " a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Ilex verticillata .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 71 attributes.