Jessie Keith
Family
Aquifoliaceae
Botanical Name
Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold'
Plant Common Name
Winter Gold Winterberry, Winterberry
General Description
A holly of a different color, 'Winter Gold' lights up the winter landscape with masses of sunny berries. It is one of many outstanding selections of winterberry, a large densely branched deciduous holly from eastern North America.
A relatively late-blooming cultivar, 'Winter Gold' bears numerous small white female flowers on new growth in late spring, a few weeks after the toothed, oval, dark green leaves emerge. If a late-flowering male winterberry (such as 'Southern Gentleman') is nearby, masses of round pea-sized fruits follow the flowers, ripening apricot-yellow in early fall and persisting after the leaves drop. The berries adorn the bare branches through much of winter, until eaten as a last resort by hungry birds.
Plant 'Winter Gold' in full sun and moist, well-drained soil for best flowering and fruiting. It does well in damp sites. Use it as a foundation shrub or clustered in masses in a mixed shrub border. It is great for wildlife, and its berried branches are unsurpassed for holiday decorating.
One late-flowering male plant (such as 'Southern Gentleman') will adequately pollinate up to five 'Winter Gold' plants.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 4
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 9
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Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
6'-8' / 1.8m - 2.4m
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Width
6'-8' / 1.8m - 2.4m
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Bloom Time
Spring
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Native To
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam
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Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
White
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Fruit Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Salmon, Peach
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow, Green
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Foliage Color (Fall) Modifier
Spotted/Mottled
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Bark Color
Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Birds
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Self-Sowing
No
