Winterberry

Winterberry (Illex spp.)

 

Size: 4-6′ tall and 3′ spread

Flowering: late summer

Fruiting: late fall and throughout winter

Birds: spring migrants including bluebird, thrasher, waxwings, flicker, catbird, mockingbird and robins.

From early fall through winter, Winterberry branches are covered in bright-red or orange fruits. The fruiting branches are great for decoration in the garden or in the house. Or leave them for the birds since over 40 species of birds are known to eat the fruit, including: bluebirds, thrashers, waxwings, flickers, catbirds, mockingbirds and robins. The leaves of Winterberries are thick and dark green and contrast well with the red fruit. The foliage stays healthy all summer and isn’t bothered by insects. The leaves drop off the plant in late fall to expose the beautiful berries.

NOTE: You’ll need both male and female plants to produce fruits, with one male for up to 6 nearby females. (Plant 1 male for every 3 females for better production) Plant in sun or part shade. They like moist to wet, slightly acid soils. Winterberries are native to North America.

Red Sprite – Female plant (Ilex verticillata) 2-3′ tall/3-4′ wide. Red Sprite is a compact shrub that stays small, making it easy to fit into a smaller landscape, mixed with perennials or as a low hedge. A female selection, this variety is covered in small greenish-white flowers in early summer that are followed by loads of 1/2-inch bright-red fruit that stay on the plant all winter. Its deep-green foliage is not bothered by disease or pests. Pollinated by ‘Jim Dandy’.

Gold Fruited – Female plant. This mid-sized Winterberry produces golden orange fruit in late summer that stays on the plant all winter until eaten by birds. A female selection, this variety has an upright, mounded shape with dark-green foliage that turns yellow in the fall. Pollinated by ‘Jim Dandy’

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Winter Red  – Female plant. A shade-tolerant female Winterberry, this plant produces loads of bright-red berries on a large plant that grows 6 to 9-feet tall and wide. Has rounded growth. The red berries will make this plant the focal point of your garden in the winter. Pollinated by ‘Southern Gentleman’

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Jim Dandy – Male plant. A male winterberry that is used to pollinate ‘Afterglow’, ‘Gold Fruited’ and ‘Red Sprite’ female winterberries (see these varieties above). You’ll see lots of very small flowers on this shrub, but no fruit. It has dark-green foliage and makes a rounded, compact shrub that grows 3 to 5-feet tall and wide.

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Southern Gentleman – Male Plant. A male Winterberry that is used to pollinate ‘Winter Red’. You’ll see lots of small flowers on this shrub, but no fruit. It has a rounded shape and grows 6 to 9-feet tall and wide.

Sumac

Sumacs (Rhus spp.)

Size: 8-12′ tall with canopy spread up to 6′

Flowering:

Fruiting: late summer – early autumn

Birds: cardinals, eastern bluebirds, purple finches, and even wild turkeys

Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica) 10-15′ tall/’ wide. Fragrant sumac is a rapid growing, a short-lived (20-30 years) shrub, which reproduces from seed or by shooting roots. Seed production is moderately abundant, and somewhat utilized but small birds such as chickadees and goldfinches in winter. It flourishes best in average to slightly dry soil conditions, excelling in lighter soils, which make it very useful for river or lake bank cover. Full sun to partial shade is preferred, and it may not do very well in full shade. Easily grown in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of wide range of soils except those that are poorly drained.

 

CAUTION: Sumacs can be aggressive spreading, and may not be ideal for small properties.

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) 9-15′ tall/ 15-20′ spread. Staghorn sumac is a large, open, spreading shrub that typically reaches 9-15′ tall. It spreads by root suckers to 15-20′ wide or more in a cluster. Female plants produce showy, pyramidal fruiting clusters, which ripen in autumn to a maroon-brown color. Fruit clusters persist through the winter, which is attractive to wildlife. Grow in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It is tolerant of wide range of soils except those that are poorly drained.

 

 

 

 

 

Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) 10-15′ tall/6-10′ wide. Smooth sumac has a fruit existing in panicles. Fruits are dark red, round and hairy, 1/8 inch long. The panicles droop when mature; maturing September to October but persisting through winter when other fruits may be scarce. It does best with average moisture in full sun, but can tolerate heavier soils. Like Fragrant Sumac, Smooth Sumac is also a short-lived plant that is not tolerant of shade.