Winterberry holly ‘Winter Red’

Fall and winter fruits of winterberry holly 'Winter Red.'

* Common name: Winterberry holly ‘Winter Red’

* Botanical name: Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’

* What it is: A large, multi-stemmed, native shrub whose main attraction is a boatload of big, red berries that line the stems from fall to early winter. Especially showy when the leaves drop, leaving the berries behind. Very bird-friendly.

* Size: 8 to 9 feet tall, 7 to 8 feet wide

* Where to use: Damp areas, wood’s edges and as border shrub. Dappled sun or part shade is ideal, although winterberry adapts to full sun.

* Care: Most important: ‘Winter Red’ is a female and needs a male ‘Southern Gentleman’ nearby to produce fruit. Water deeply in a drought. Thin out or cut back in March if needed, but it’s best to give these adequate room and skip pruning.

* Great partner: Backdrop with tall evergreens to make berries stand out even more. Helleborus, liriope and coralbells are good underplantings.