Plant Ilex verticillata 'Magical Showtime' where you want standout winter interest. This deciduous winterberry holly drops its leaves in fall, revealing branches that can carry showy fruit into winter. You will get the heaviest fruit display in full sun, but it also performs well in part shade.

Give your plant consistently moist soil, especially during establishment and in summer heat. Winterberry naturally grows in moist sites, and it responds well to organic matter and mulch that helps hold moisture and moderates soil temperature. Avoid letting the root zone dry out completely for long periods.

For reliable fruit, you need pollination. Pair a female plant with a compatible male winterberry holly nearby so flowers can be pollinated and fruit can form. If your goal is berries for winter color and cutting, plan the planting as a set rather than a single specimen.

Prune as needed in late winter to early spring, removing damaged wood and thinning crowded stems to improve light and air movement. Because fruit forms on new growth following flowering, avoid heavy pruning right before bloom if you want maximum berries. A light shaping prune and periodic renewal pruning help keep the shrub dense and productive.

Specifications

• Cold hardiness zone: 3-9 (-40 degrees F) - Contact your local extension to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone (we cannot guarantee hardiness in fringe zones)
• Light: Full sun   Part sun
• Growth rate: Moderate
• Mature height: 36-48"
• Shipped height: 36-42"
• Spread: 36-48"
• Native to the U.S.: Yes

Shipping

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Shipping information that applies to all plants:
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Care