Slow-growing winterberry eventually becomes 6-10 feet tall and wide. Planting in large groups enhances its appeal. The large red fruits of winterberry (Ilex verticillata) brighten the winter landscape and positively glow when surrounded by freshly fallen, winter-white snow. This is a stunning plant to consider for any garden offering full sun to partial shade and acidic soil that is moist and rich with organic matter.
A deciduous holly that blooms in summer, there must be at least one male winterberry plant for each nine to 10 female plants for fruit to set. While flowers are inconspicuous, fruits that ripen on female plants in September are anything but. Fruits persist through January, sometimes later, the length of the show depending on the number and appetites of winter birds.
Hardy to Zone 3, winterberry is slow-growing. Plants eventually become 6 to 10 feet tall and wide, often forming large colonies of multistemmed shrubs with twiggy twisting branches that enhance its appeal, especially when planted in large groups.
On a crisp winter day, as you gaze through the window, dream of winterberry, the pleasure of red berries in snow, and the delightful birds they would attract if you plant a couple or more in your garden next spring.
Shape, thin, and repair. December is a good time to begin pruning deciduous trees and shrubs. Evergreens should be pruned in the growing season, since they never become fully dormant and may suffer tip burned if pruned in winter. However, to avoid problems with disease, prune any tree or shrub damaged by heavy snow or ice loads as soon as possible.
Night lights. Exterior lighting can be an effective feature for gardens, especially during long winter nights. Properly positioned lights can create a mood and direct the eye toward important landscape design elements. If your garden does not have exterior lighting, begin to consider its potential role in your landscape. In winter, views of evergreen trees covered with fallen snow are enhanced with lighting and appear closer to the viewer, providing an important connection to your garden from inside your home.
Grass is greener. During summer, lawns are often overshadowed by the richness of textures and ever-changing colors in surrounding garden beds. The eye skips over the grass and focuses on what lies beyond. Begin to assess whether the amount of turf and contours of a lawn are visually pleasing. See if new gentle curves or crisper corners might add visual interest to your landscape.
Feathered friends. This winter attract birds such as downy woodpeckers, northern cardinals, red- and white-breasted nuthatches, and black-capped chickadees to feeders placed close to your house. Various types of seeds will attract different species of birds. Try a mix of black-oil sunflower, striped sunflower, safflower, and peanuts. Blue jays are particularly attracted to cracked corn. Store seed in a dry place so that it doesn't become moldy and make birds sick. It's also essential to clean feeders regularly to prevent the spread of disease to visiting birds.
Avoid gnats. Fungus gnats, small black insects that fly around plants, are unwelcome nuisances anytime of year, but especially during the holiday season when homes are filled with family and other guests. Gnats are often a sign of overwatering. Prevent problems with fungus gnats by avoiding excessively damp soil and standing water in pot saucers.
Denise Corkery is a horticultural writer at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe.
