Backyard Botanist
by Wendy Pomeroy
Well here we are again, surrounded by the sharp, crisply frigid world
of February in Maine. Amongst the browns and grays of our mostly
snowless winter, dashes of brighter color stand out. The red cardinal
appears more vivid. And in this muted landscape, Ilex verticillata,
commonly known as Winterberry, Black Alder, Coralberry, or Michigan
Holly, adds another welcome spot of color with its deep red berries.
This deciduous plant—as native as you can get— is in the Holly family:
Aquifoliaceae.
If you want to plant this holly in your own garden, many cultivars are
available at our local nurseries and can be planted in the spring for you to enjoy next winter. This multi-stemmed, native shrub grows from 6' to 10'. A male plant is needed for the the female plant to produce the magnificent berries.
But if you simply want to admire this plant in the landscape, then you can find it in the places it thrives:
the edge of woods, in nice wet soils and along roads, near the drainage
ditches. It also thrives in the sun. A magnificent example of this is
at Seapoint Beach right where the paths to Crescent Beach and Seapoint
Beach merge. Here, for me, is the perfect layered landscape. Large
colonies of plants form a textured tapestry of color. The I.
verticillata is wedged between sumac and, sadly, the invasive phragmites
grass. The berries of the female I. verticillata form a halo in the
cold sun, and add a blush of red to the otherwise stark frames of the
sumac and grasses.
Ilex verticillata is a plant well suited to our climate and is hardy from zones 3-9. It is an unpresuming plant for much of the year until late August or
September when it shows off its glorious small red berries. Birds love
the berries, but often leave enough for us to use in Christmas wreaths
and to satisfy our craving for color in the dark months of January and
February. When framed by snow, the berries of this otherwise humble
plant will stop you in your tracks!
