Dwarf Winterberry
Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite'
Compact winterberry at 3 to 4 feet, its stems buried under glossy scarlet berries by October. Plant near a 'Jim Dandy' male and the birds follow.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Sep 248 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Sep 258 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Sep 268 AM – 2 PM
The most reliable compact winterberry for four-season color. those scarlet berries on bare stems in December are worth every inch of garden space.
Red Sprite is one of the most reliable berry-producing winterberries you can plant in the mid-Atlantic garden. Come October, the stems are absolutely buried under clusters of glossy scarlet berries, the kind of show that stops you cold on a gray November morning. Compact enough to fit tighter spaces where the straight species would overwhelm, it tops out around 3–4 feet with a tidy rounded habit that needs almost no pruning to keep in shape. Plant it near a pollinator male (like 'Jim Dandy') within 50 feet and the berries come reliably year after year. Cardinals and robins work through the fruits in winter when food is scarce, and bluebirds will visit too. The glossy dark-green foliage turns yellow in fall before dropping to reveal those brilliant stems full of red.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown dwarf winterberry propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
Plant dwarf winterberry instead of Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii). Same job in the garden, without the spread.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 3–4 ft · 36–48 in wide
- Bloom time
- Spring
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Family
- Aquifoliaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America
Care notes for dwarf winterberry.
Thrives in average to moist soil and tolerates occasional wet feet, making it ideal for low spots and rain gardens. Needs a compatible male pollinator for berry production. 'Jim Dandy' is the standard match. Full sun gives the best fruit set; part shade is fine but reduces berry density. Little to no fertilizing needed once established.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside dwarf winterberry.
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