Ilex – Little Goblin^® Red – Winterberry Holly – Ilex verticillata

Bog Plant

Native to North America

Fall Interest

Winter Interest

Small / Miniature

Maintenance Notes

For complete details about growing and getting berries on winterberry holly, visit our Ultimate Guide to Winterberry Holly.

Adaptable to wet soils, does well in light and heavy soils. First class pick for planting in saturated areas. It is best to avoid pruning winterberry hollies, except to remove whole branches for cut flowers or other decorating. Regular pruning or cutting back, however, will impact the number of flowers and the quantity of fruit that the plant sets. Little pruning should be required, though very old branches can be removed in early spring if they are no longer producing vigorous growth. According to the Humane Society of America Ilex berries can be toxic to pets. This is means that the plants are generally identified as having the capability for producing a toxic reaction.

Uses Notes Mass plantings; hedges; cutting gardens. Its dwarf size makes it a good fit for container gardens and smaller landscapes. Ilex verticillata tolerates damp conditions, and may be used in rain garden and bioswales. PLEASE NOTE: To produce berries, you'll need a Little Goblin® Guy ilex, the male pollinator. One Little Goblin Guy will pollinate up to five Little Goblin Red and/or Little Goblin Orange winterberry hollies; plant within 50'/15.24m of one another.

Maintenance Category Easy

Water Category Wet

Blooms On Old Wood

Bloom Time

Heat Zones 9

Flower Form Border Plant, Container, Cut Flower, Landscape, Mass Planting

pH B - pH 5.8 - 6.2

EC (2:1 Extraction Method) 0.6 - 0.9

Fertilization 150 - 300

Light Requirements Medium, High

Water Requirements Dry to Moderate

Pinching and Growth Regulators

Pinch pruning will produce a very full product similar in body to an Itea, versus traditional shearing which produces a tall vase shaped product and typically takes an additional season to produce.

Pest and Disease Management

Aphids

Grower Tips

Use Ilex 'Jim Dandy' as the male pollinator for verticillata