{"product_id":"red-sprite-winterberry","title":"Red Sprite Winterberry","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"pd-title-head\"\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eIlex verticillata\u003c\/em\u003e 'Red Sprite'\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOverview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUses:\u003c\/strong\u003e Winter interest plantings, foundation beds, damp and low-lying ground, bird and wildlife gardens, mass plantings within view of a window.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBenefits:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oversized red fruit packed along bare stems from October into midwinter, a compact rounded frame that holds under four feet without pruning, and a berry load heavy enough that a single plant carries a whole bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–9\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full Sun, Partial Sun\/Shade\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife Cycle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous Shrub\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rounded, Mounding — dense compact frame branching low to the ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–4 feet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–5 feet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSummary\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe berries are larger than the species produces and there are more of them, on a plant half the size. That is the entire pitch, and it is enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Red Sprite' is a dwarf female winterberry selected for exactly one job. Through spring and summer it is a quiet, dense, rounded shrub with clean dark green leaves — pleasant, unremarkable, easy to place at the front of a bed. Then the leaves drop in October and what is left is bare gray stems packed shoulder to shoulder with fruit the size of a pea, in a red that stays saturated through snow, ice, and gray weather until the birds finally clear it out in January or February.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBecause it stays around three to four feet, it works where full-size winterberry does not — under a window, along a walk, at the front of a foundation bed, in a group of three or five where a taller selection would crowd the space. The compact habit is natural rather than maintained; it does not require shearing to stay that size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWinterberry is a native holly of wet ground, and it keeps that preference in the garden. Damp soil, low spots, pond edges, and heavy clay all suit it. It is also a well-documented winter food source for cedar waxwings, robins, bluebirds, and thrushes once other fruit has been stripped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne thing to plan for: winterberry plants are either male or female, and only females fruit. 'Red Sprite' is female and needs a male winterberry planted nearby to set the crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCare\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRed Sprite Winterberry Care\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in full sun to partial shade. Fruit set is directly proportional to light — full sun produces the heaviest crop, and deep shade produces very little.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSoil should be acidic and moisture-retentive. Winterberry grows naturally in swamps and low woods, handles clay and periodic flooding without difficulty, and struggles in alkaline soil, where the foliage yellows. It does not tolerate extended dry conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWater consistently, particularly through establishment and during summer heat. Drought stress during fruit development causes berries to drop before they color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeed lightly in early spring with an acid-forming \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/products\/slow-release-fertilizer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eslow release fertilizer\u003c\/a\u003e if growth is weak or the foliage is pale. In good soil the plant needs nothing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrune in late winter before growth begins, and prune sparingly. Fruit forms on old wood, so heavy cutting costs you the display. The compact habit is natural and does not require shaping — limit yourself to removing dead or damaged stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant a male winterberry within roughly 50 feet for pollination. One male will service several females. Bloom times need to overlap, so pair early-blooming females with early-blooming males.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSize\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat Size is the Red Sprite Winterberry for Sale Online?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur Red Sprite Winterberry ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/pages\/contact\" title=\"Contact Almanac Planting Co\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003econtact us\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow Large Does Red Sprite Winterberry Grow?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExpect a dense rounded shrub roughly 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Growth is slow, so allow several seasons to reach full size. Space 3 feet on center for a connected mass, or 4 feet to keep plants as individual mounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAdditional Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need a second plant to get berries?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Winterberry is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants, and only female plants produce fruit. 'Red Sprite' is female. You will need a male winterberry with an overlapping bloom period planted within about 50 feet — one male pollinates several females. If you are unsure which male pairs with it, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/pages\/contact\" title=\"Contact Almanac Planting Co\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003econtact us\u003c\/a\u003e and we will point you to the right one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are some common names for this plant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis plant is commonly called Winterberry or Winterberry Holly. The species is also known as Michigan Holly and, less often, Black Alder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it lose its leaves? I thought hollies were evergreen.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWinterberry is one of the deciduous hollies. It drops its foliage every fall, which is exactly what makes the display work — the fruit is far more visible on bare stems than it would be behind evergreen leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long do the berries last?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey color in October and typically hold into January or February, depending on how quickly birds find them. Cold does not damage the fruit; birds are the limiting factor, and in a hard winter they may strip a plant in a week. Other selections that carry winter interest are in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/collections\/native-plants\"\u003eNative Plants of North America\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it grow in wet soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It occurs naturally in swamps, bogs, and low wet woods and is one of the better shrub choices for ground that stays damp or floods seasonally. Heavy clay is fine. The one soil requirement is acidity. More options in this size range are in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/collections\/shrubs\"\u003eShrubs \u0026amp; Bushes\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Almanac Planting Co","offers":[{"title":"3 Gallon \/ Fall '26 Pre-Order","offer_id":47492643881122,"sku":"PN-winterberryrs-3-1yr","price":79.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/9374\/6850\/files\/RedSpriteWinterberry4.jpg?v=1786016982","url":"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/products\/red-sprite-winterberry","provider":"Almanac Planting Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}