Winterberry Holly Profile for Maryland
Compare winterberry holly's Maryland wetland range, moist acidic soil, light, mature size, and male-pollinator needs for fruit.
Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is a deciduous shrub associated with Maryland wetlands across the Mountain, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain regions in University of Maryland Extension’s profile. Confirm local range and stock before planting; a wetland association does not mean a shrub tolerates permanent ponding at every site.
Site profile
| Field | Source description |
|---|---|
| Mature size | About 6–12 feet; some cultivars reach about 4–6 feet. |
| Light | Full sun to mostly shade. |
| Soil | Moist, high-organic soil; any texture; acidic pH 4.5–6.5. |
| Fruit | Female plants produce berries when pollinated by a male of the same species. Overlapping bloom improves fruiting. UMD gives one male for up to 10 female plants within 50 feet as its planting guidance. |
| Water limit | The profile does not give a permanent-ponding threshold or flood duration. |
UMD’s count and distance are planting guidance, not a fruit-set guarantee or a placement plan.
Choose winterberry for a site that fits the source’s moist-soil description and the shrub’s mature size. If fruit is the goal, track plant sex and bloom overlap when selecting stock; the cited spacing is UMD guidance, not a guarantee of fruit set under every site condition.
Sources and further reading
- Winterberry Hollyauthoritative-secondary