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, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 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.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.