Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite'

Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite', commonly known as Dwarf Winterberry Holly Female, is a woody landscape shrub valued for its pairs with "jim dandy" flowers during spring. It typically matures 3–15 feet tall and 3–12 feet wide. Grow it in full sun through deep shade in moist, well-drained clay or loam soil. Its native range or documented parentage is Eastern and central North America, from Newfoundland and Ontario south to Florida and Texas. The Winterberry is a host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly and attracts other pollinators. In the landscape, it works well in border, foundation planting, and hedge. Once established, it shows useful tolerance to deer, fire, and salt.

Builds the middle layer of the garden, adding structure between perennials and trees. Supports a more active, living garden with flowers that pollinators can use. Offers native-plant character in a garden-friendly selected form. A better candidate for landscapes with deer pressure than more browse-prone plants.

Glossy everpairs with "jim dandy" flowers; red berries fruit; matures about 3 - 8 ft tall

Evergreen hedge, foundation planting, wildlife garden