Ilex verticillata seeds grow into the winterberry — one of the most spectacular deciduous hollies in North American native flora, native to the temperate and boreal biome of eastern North America, from Newfoundland and Ontario south through the eastern United States to northern Georgia and Alabama, growing in swamps, wetlands, bogs and stream margins. Described by (L.) A.Gray. The epithet verticillata means 'whorled' (from Latin), referring to the whorled arrangement of the clusters of berries on the stems. The extraordinary ornamental display occurs in autumn and winter after the leaves fall: the bare branches are densely studded with vivid scarlet-red berries that persist through winter, creating one of the most dramatic berry displays of any North American native shrub. An essential wildlife food source. Both male and female plants needed for berry production. CAUTION: berries TOXIC to humans. Family Aquifoliaceae.Full sun to partial shade; moist to wet, acidic soils; very cold-hardy. Outstanding winter berry display. BERRIES TOXIC. Both male and female plants needed. 'Verticillata' = whorled (whorled berry clusters on bare winter stems); (L.) A.Gray; brilliant scarlet winter berries BERRIES TOXIC to humans; outstanding winter wildlife food; bare-branch display; both sexes needed E. North America (Newfoundland to Georgia) — temperate/boreal biome; wetlands, swamps, bogs Genus Ilex: ~600 species; Worldwide; hollies; Family Aquifoliaceae; Order Aquifoliales Full sun/partial shade; moist to wet acidic soils; very cold-hardy; wetland specialist; BERRIES TOXIC; Aquifoliaceae Ilex verticillata — the winterberry — produces the most spectacular winter berry display of any deciduous holly: the bare winter branches densely covered in brilliant scarlet berries, visible from a distance and providing an essential food resource for wintering birds, make it one of the most ornamentally and ecologically valuable native shrubs in eastern North American wetland and woodland gardens.IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.
