Ilex verticillata - Black Alder

Plant Expert:

Michael Dirr

Ilex verticillata

Common Names:
Black Alder
Common Winterberry
Coralberry
Michigan Holly

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Origin:
	Nova Scotia to western Ontario, west to Wisconsin, south to Florida, west to Missouri

Sun/Water Requirements:

Partial/Full sun.
Moderate to wet conditions.
Dirr says: "Best fruit set in full sun. native to swamps across eastern North America; adaptable to wet conditions and does well in light and heavy soils; prefers moist, acid (pH 4.5 to 6.5), high organic matter soils; will develop chlorosis in high pH soils. An amazing plant; I have seen it growing in fresh water ponds on Cape Cod, the entire root system completely submerged. Some stems on these plants were 4" in diameter."

Climate / Hardiness Zones:
	Zone 3 to Zone 9 Dirr says: "the most northerly distributed of the hollies native to America"

Growth:
	Range: Grows from 5' to 10'. Dirr says: "6 to 10' in height with a similar spread, can grow to 15' but this is rare under landscape conditions. Oval-rounded deciduous shrub with dense complement of fine twiggy branches; tends to sucker and form large multi-stemmed clumps."

Flowers:
	Color(s): White Season(s): Spring Dirr says: "males flowers in clusters of 6 or more in the leaf axils; female flowers fewer, usually singly or in three's on short peduncles (stalks)."

Foliage:
	Deciduous Color: Leaves are dark green in the summer and yellow and purple in the fall. Dirr says: "no significant fall color, although occasionally yellow- to purple-tinged. Considerable variation in summer leaf color with some cultivars lustrous dark green, others lighter."

Fruit:

Color: Red
Season(s): Late Summer, Fall, Winter
Dirr says: "berry-like drupe, bright red, 1/4 to 1/2" across and often in pairs, ripening in late August - September and persisting into December - January in the North, March - April in Zone 7 and 8. Depending on temperatures and bird populations, make a magnificent show, often spectacular and without rival in the winter landscape. Fruit persistence can depend greatly on choice of cultivar with local or regional adaptability. In our trials 'Winter Red' has outperformed the rest."

Landscape Value:
	Can be used as a grouping plant. Dirr says: "in wet areas of residential and commercial landscapes this is a first class choice. Excellent for mass effect, shrub borders, water side and wet soils. I have seen several mass plantings which were outstanding; superior when the red fruits are framed by snow or where the fruit-laden branches are reflected off water."

Other:

Other Ilex verticillata References & Articles:

Choose Holly Shrubs for Your New Hampshire Landscape.
... , native holly you might want to consider planting in your New Hampshire landscape is Black Alder, also know as Common Winterberry, Coralberry, or Michigan Holly (Ilex verticillata native).

Common Winterberry - Plant This Berry-Producing Shrub to Attract Birds to Your Pennsylvania Garden.
Also known as Black Alder, Coralberry or Michigan Holly, Common Winterberry is a deciduous holly that bears red fruit in the fall, providing a natural food source that will attract birds to ...

Deciduous Hollies
Common winterberry or black alder, Ilex verticillata, is one of the best-known species. ... Common winterberry has the most northerly distribution of all hollies in North America.

Sparkleberry
The U.S. National Arboretum presents 'Sparkleberry' holly, an improved deciduous holly for the landscape. 'Sparkleberry' ... Ilex (serrata x verticillata) 'Sparkleberry' (NA 29738, PI 378149)

Lawn & Garden Search Blog
Add Beauty and Interest to Your Michigan Garden by Selecting Perennial Ornamental Grasses . ... Choose Holly Shrubs for Your New Hampshire Landscape.

Waiting for Spring: Winter Interest at the National Arboretum
Hollies that are native to the United States include American holly (Ilex opaca) selections and the deciduous, winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata, Zone 5 – 9), which boasts clusters of red ...

Shrubs that Grow in Full Sun
... red, orange or yellow fruiting display is Common Winterberry; Possumhaw is better for alkaline soils; Bog ... winter fruits and are salt-tolerant; Common Snowberry is best appreciated for its ...

State Trees
Flowering dogwood is a common woodland tree through the eastern United States. ... American holly (Ilex opaca) state tree of DELAWARE

State Tree and Flower
Where more than one accepted common name exists, the common name in the legislation has been listed. ... 1907 Delaware (DE) Tree American holly Ilex opaca 1939 Flower peach blossom Prunus ...

How to Choose Plants and Trees for Your Georgia Rain Garden
... , in a sunny location, you might consider Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) or Summersweet Clethera (Clethra ... Inkberry (Ilex glabra) will tolerate either sunny or shady conditions.

Native Plant Alternatives to Invasive Plants Great
... St. Johnswort, Hypericum prolificum winterberry, Ilex verticillata deerberry, Vaccinium stamineum ... ’s bluestar, Amsonia hubrichtii witch-alder, Fothergilla gardenii oak-leaf hydrangea, ...

Ilex verticillata is hardy in these areas:

Alameda, CA	Alamo, CA	Alsip, IL
American Canyon, CA	Angwin, CA	Antioch, CA
Baltimore, MD	Bayside, NY	Bronx, NY
Brooklyn, NY	Brownsville, TX	Canton, MI
Chicago, IL	Cicero, IL	College Point, NY
Conneaut, OH	Corona, NY	Danville, CA
Detroit, MI	Dorset, OH	East Claridon, OH
East Elmhurst, NY	Ecorse, MI	Elmhurst, NY
Elmwood Park, IL	Elyria, OH	Essex, CA
Evergreen Park, IL	Fawnskin, CA	Ferndale, MI
Florence, SC	Flushing, NY	Fontana, CA
Forest Falls, CA	Forest Hills, NY	Fort Eustis, VA
Fresh Meadows, NY	Glen Burnie, MD	Gwynn Oak, MD
Harper Woods, MI	Harrison Township, MI	Hunt Valley, MD
Jackson Heights, NY	Leasburg, NC	Lexington, NC
Liberty, NC	Linwood, NC	Little Neck, NY
Ludlow, CA	Macomb, MI	Marysville, MI
Maspeth, NY	Memphis, MI	Mercedes, TX
Middle Village, NY	Mission, TX	Modesto, CA
Moreno Valley, CA	Morgantown, WV	Mount Clemens, MI
New Baltimore, MI	New Haven, MI	New York, NY
Newport News, VA	North Ridgeville, OH	North Street, MI
Oakland Gardens, NY	Olmito, TX	Penitas, TX
Pharr, TX	Phelan, CA	Philadelphia, PA
Pikesville, MD	Pinon Hills, CA	Port Isabel, TX
Progreso, TX	Redlands, CA	Rego Park, NY
Rialto, CA	Ridgewood, NY	Rimforest, CA
Riverdale, IL	Saratoga, CA	Soquel, CA
Sparrows Point, MD	Staten Island, NY	Taylor, MI
Temperance, MI	Temple City, CA	Towson, MD
Trenton, MI	Tres Pinos, CA	Upland, CA
Virginia Beach, VA	Walnut, CA	Watsonville, CA
Wayne, MI	Westland, MI	Whitestone, NY
Whitmore Lake, MI

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