Winterberry Holly Combo Pack

Ilex verticillata

COMBO INCLUDES: One Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red'(Female) or Sparkleberry(Female) and one Ilex verticillata ‘Apollo’ (Male) or ‘Southern Gentleman’ (Male)

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Shrub

Height at Maturity: 6-8′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Spacing: 5′ apart for hedges, 12’+ apart for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Rounded

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: Tiny, in clusters

Flowering Period: Spring

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: Yes (On Female)

Berry Color: Bright Red

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Damp to Consistently Moist to Wet Soils

Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Birds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Disease, Heat, Insect, Wet Soil

Description

If you love berries you’re gonna love this combo of Winterberry Hollies, both of which are easy-to-grow North American natives. You might be asking why a combo? In order to produce a bumper crop of berries on a female winterberry holly, you must have a male plant for pollination. We selected our long-time favorites among the winterberry hollies for this combo: ‘Winter Red’, a female, and ‘Apollo’ or ‘Southern Gentleman’ for the male.

Note: One male deciduous holly will pollinate up to five female plants.

The Female:

‘Winter Red’, when she is pollinated by Apollo or southern gentleman, produces a stunning profusion of large (3/8-inch diameter) bright red berries that nearly cover the branches all winter long on an upright rounded shrub 6 to 8 feet tall. She loses her leaves for the winter so the brilliant berries can have the stage. Then in spring she clothes herself in lustrous dark green leaves that are about 3 to 5 inches long. In the leaf axils, somewhat inconspicuous creamy white flowers appear in late spring, which are followed by the berries.

‘Sparkleberry’, A female winterberry hybrid cross, when pollinated by a male, Sparkleberry is prized for her stunning profusion of brilliant red berries that put on a spectacular color show in winter. All grown up she reaches 6 to 10 feet in height and equally as wide with a rounded habit covered in lustrous, dark green leaves that turn to golden yellow in fall.

The Male:

‘Apollo’ or ‘Southern Gentleman’ Because their season of bloom overlaps the Ilex verticillata and Ilex serrata cultivars, ‘Apollo’ or ‘Southern Gentleman’ are the studs of choice for many female winterberry hollies, such as Winter Red. Both varieties grow in an upright rounded shape to around 6 to 8 feet tall and equally as wide and will thrive in sun or part shade. Leaves are a beautiful lustrous green. Apollo or Southern gentleman are essential for enjoying the female berry bling!

Magic happens when you put Winter Red in the same garden with Apollo or Southern Gentleman. For best pollination plant either variety within 100 feet of Winter Red. That said, the closer the better.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 6 to 8 feet tall and equally as wide, these two deciduous hollies provide year round interest as accents in smaller gardens spaces or home foundation plantings or grouped in shrub borders, sunny woodland borders, native plant areas or bird gardens. Makes a spectacular hedge and is excellent for use in moist areas or along the banks of streams, ponds and other bodies of water. A fine addition to bird gardens, berry gardens, red color theme gardens and native habitats.

Suggested Spacing: 5 to 6 feet apart for hedges; 12 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Winterberry hollies are very easy to grow in consistently moist to wet acidic soils of average or better fertility. They are adaptable to both light and heavy soils and grow well in poorly drained soils including boggy, wet conditions. Generally one male winterberry holly will be sufficient for pollinating 6-10 female plants. Flowers are born on new growth so you can prune to shape in late winter or early spring.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for a Holly tree.

How To Plant A Holly Tree In The Ground Or In Pots

How To Prune A Holly Bush Or Tree

How To Fertilize & Water A Holly Tree

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us

I ordered a set of male and female 3 gallon winterberry plants.
Fabulously well packed and healthy plants arrived quickly
We look forward to years of enjoyment. Thank you.—————————————————–You’re very welcome! Thanks for the kind words and awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

They arrived in great packaging. They were planted and we are very happy so far. It’s only been a little while and we hope they will produce fruit for the birds. Looking forward to watching them grow.———————————Thanks for the wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This shipment was part of a shipment “split” by FEDEX and arrived approximately 6 days after shipping from Wilson. The male plant was pretty wilted and lost approximately 20% of its leaves. The female plant was in very good condition. Watered both and planted the following day. After 3 weeks the male plant is fully recovered and appears to be doing fine. as is the female plant. Both plants met my expectations. Hoping for a good result next year.——————————————————Sorry about the male, but glad it is recovering. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Plants arrived in great shape. The best packaging I’ve seen from an online plant provider. It’s been about a month since planting and both are doing very well. Certainly will look to Wilson Bros. for future needs.———————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Very happy with plants and service. Never disappointed with your products. Best selection available anywhere.—————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Delivered as promised; first rate packaging, large, healthy plants. Great doing business with Wilson Bros.—————————————–Thanks for the kind words! We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

These are very healthy looking plants. They came potted and in perfect condition. They really know how to ship a large plant. I expect berries in the coming season.——————————-
We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Yes, everything is fine. I just planted them last week. Very happy with quality of plants and packaging.——————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Packing was outstanding! The 2 plants that arrived were healthy and beautiful! My husband’s first comment after opening the boxes was “ Now, that is a company that knows how to ship large plants”. Wonderful folks! I ordered 4 Hydrangeas 3 gallon pots to arrive on Monday, and I will never order from any other company. Wilson Bros Gardens is the BEST!——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the wonderful review and the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Plants arrived in excellent condition. Female was chock full of berries:-)——————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The two shrubs are healthy and beautiful. Thank you.———————————————-We are so happy you are pleased with your purchase! Beth | WBG

Received two absolutely gorgeous Winterberry plants for Mother’s Day. Planted them the next day, and they are doing beautifully! Can’t wait for the berries this winter!——————————————-Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG 🙂

We are trying to add more native plants to attract birds. The pair of winterberry plants arrived looking good. I liked being able to track the shipping. We have had too much rain lately so I had to wait another week before planting. I really appreciated the nice customer service (email and phone) that I received when asking questions about this plant and other hollies. The plants are in the ground now and starting to get buds. I am quite happy with this order.

Three gallon specimens arrived in perfect condition with lots of berries on the male. Can’t wait to get them in the ground.————————————————————-Hi Kathy, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Male & Female Winterberry Holly Combo. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens