Ilex verticillata Magical Berry

Ilex verticillata Magical Berry is a female variety of winterberry selected for its compactness and abundant bright red fruiting, which is extremely decorative until late winter on its bare branches. Native to Canada and the northeastern USA, this hardy species has deciduous foliage and is not at all prickly like European holly. This small shrub grows in non-calcareous, moist to wet soil, preferably in full sun, and will find its place in even the smallest gardens. This female variety will need to be pollinated by a male plant ('Southern Gentleman') in order to bear fruit.

Hollies belong to the Aquifoliaceae family and come in more than five hundred species, trees and shrubs, scattered across the planet, from tropical zones to temperate climates. Ilex verticillata is a suckering, ubiquitous shrub which likes acidic soils and moist to wet areas, but also adapts to open spaces like meadows or occasionally drier sandy soils. It is found in a large part of the North American territory. It is quite polymorphous, taking on the appearance of a large spreading shrub 5m tall and 6m wide, or a narrow shrub not exceeding 2m in height, depending on its habitat. This species is dioecious, meaning there are male and female individuals.
Magical Berry Winterberry Kolmber is a selection by Dutch breeder Peter R. Kolster, who is responsible for nearly thirty shrub varieties mainly among the genera Baccharis and Hydrangea, but also Philadelphus, Exochorda, Callicarpa, and others. Initially selected in 1997 by cross-breeding two Ilex verticillata plants, this holly was protected by a US patent in 2003 for commercial distribution. It forms a compact shrub, about 1.50m tall and 80cm wide, with an upright growth habit. The foliage, deciduous in winter, is composed of obovate or lanceolate leaves, tapering at the tips, measuring approximately 6cm long and 2.5cm wide, with finely toothed edges. The leaf blades are medium to dark green, with a non-hairy upper surface that is somewhat rough and slightly glossy. Flowering occurs in late spring, sometimes later, in the form of small white or greenish flowers no larger than 5mm in diameter. Solitary or grouped in twos or threes, they are scentless and have no ornamental value. When pollinated by a nearby male, the fertilised female flowers transform into small round and shiny, orange-red berries, clustered along the branches. Measuring 8mm in diameter, these berries appear approximately 75 days after pollination and persist on the plant throughout the winter, providing a feast for birds. Hardy to -25°C, this holly thrives in cool to wet, non-calcareous soils.

Ilex verticillata 'Magical Berry' is one of the most beautiful ornamental fruit shrubs in the garden. Its branches also make beautiful decorations for indoor compositions. Its compact size means it will fit even in the most intimate gardens, integrated into a loose hedge or within a mixed border. Its natural appearance pairs well with other shrubs of the same type to form a rustic hedge. Combine it with the charming Rosa rubrifolia (or Rosa glauca), a botanical rose with bluish foliage that produces pretty, single, pink flowers with golden centres in summer, followed by small shiny red decorative fruits. Slightly taller Amelanchier alnifolia Smoky is also a shrub with a very natural silhouette, with ornamental and even edible qualities. Its spring white flowers are remarkable and are followed by small edible blue-black fruits. As for the foliage, the young shoots turn red and especially in autumn, the plant turns yellow and orange. To keep some greenery in winter, add a Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) with beautiful shiny dark green foliage and white summer flowers.