Is Winterberry Holly deer resistant?
Ilex verticillata
Plant typeShrubHardinessZones 3–9LightPart shade
Mature height36–180 in
BloomSpringMaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range33 US states
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Winterberry Holly
A deciduous holly, so the leaves drop and leave bare stems packed with scarlet berries, which is far more striking than berries among evergreen leaves. You must plant a male within about fifty feet, and it needs to be one that flowers at the same time. Thrives in wet acid soil.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 4.5 to 6
- Drainage
- Tolerates wet feet
- Water
- High
- Spacing
- 47 to 94 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to Winterberry Holly
Other shrubs with the same deer rating.
- Antelope BitterbrushPurshia tridentataSeldom damaged
- Anthony Waterer SpireaSpiraea x bumaldaZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Apache PlumeFallugia paradoxaZones 6–10Seldom damaged
- Armstrong JuniperJuniperus chinensis 'Armstrongii'Zones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn OliveElaeagnus umbellataZones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn SageSalvia greggiiZones 6–9Seldom damaged
Where Winterberry Holly grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowanative
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 33 US states in total.
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Every list Winterberry Holly belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Winterberry Holly
- Is Winterberry Holly deer resistant?
- Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Winterberry Holly grow in?
- Winterberry Holly is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Winterberry Holly grow in shade?
- Yes. Winterberry Holly tolerates part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does Winterberry Holly get?
- Mature height is roughly 36–180 in. Growth rate is moderate.
- Is Winterberry Holly toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Winterberry Holly as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.