PLANT OF THE WEEK Winterberry holly

Botanical name: Ilex verticillata
Attributes: A large, deciduous shrub whose branches sport abundant brilliant red berries in fall and winter. Select cultivars produce so much fruit they appear to "bloom" with red berries until a deep freeze (below zero) discolors them. They may last until spring through mild winters if uneaten by birds. The berries hold well when cut and make fine holiday decor.
Bloom color: White
Bloom time: Late spring (May)
Culture: Plant winterberry holly in rich, heavy average-to-wet soil. They will not live in dry soil. They can be transplanted whenever the soil is workable in spring through fall. Like all hollies, only the female shrubs bear fruit, so be sure to plant the appropriate pollinator for every group of fruiting plants. Plants fruit best in full sun or part shade. Excellent cultivars include "Sprite" (4 to 5 feet), which needs "Jim Dandy" as a pollinator, or "Winter Red" (5 to 6 feet), which requires "Southern Gentlemen" nearby to set fruit.
Landscaping tips: Winterberry holly is one of our most brilliant of fall plants after leaf drop in late fall. Its fiery red fruit can be seen from a distance and is set off by water, evergreens, ornamental grasses, plants with colorful stems, and plants with persistent fruit or foliage. Plant in masses near ponds or wetlands, at the back of perennial borders or in bird gardens, and be sure to plant the male pollinator nearby. Good companion plants include arborvitae, sweetbay magnolia, American and inkberry hollies, buttonbush, red-twig or yellow-twig dogwoods, Japanese kerria, Virginia sweetspire, cordgrass and miscanthus grasses.
Cost: Five-gallon container plants usually sell for about $35.
Source: Powell Gardens