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Ilex verticillata Oosterwijk - Winterberry

Ilex verticillata Oosterwijk
Winterberry, Black Alder, Michigan Holly

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

This female bush holly, when accompanied by a male plant, is adorned with a profusion of bright red clusters that enhance the garden from autumn to the end of winter. Its deciduous dark green leaves are not prickly and turn bronze in autumn before falling. Native to North America, this extremely cold-resistant bush thrives in cool to moist soils, including clay, as long as they are acidic or at least non-chalky.
Flower size
5 mm
Height at maturity
2 m
Spread at maturity
2 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil, Damp soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

The Ilex verticillata 'Oosterwijk' is a female variety of winterberry holly, known for its abundant bright red fruiting that enhances the garden until the end of winter on its bare branches. Native to Canada and the northeastern United States, this holly is extremely hardy. Its leaves, which fall in autumn, are not prickly like those of the common European holly. Ornamental almost all year round, 'Oosterwijk' is perfect for a natural garden, a free hedge, as well as for wet areas and riverbanks, where it thrives. For optimal fruiting, it is necessary to cross-pollinate with a male plant, such as 'Southern Gentleman', recommended for its simultaneous flowering.

The holly belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family. Ilex verticillata is a sucker-forming and ubiquitous shrub, loving acidic soils and cool to wet areas, but also adapting to open spaces such as meadows or occasionally drier soils of dunes. It is found in a large part of the North American territory. It is quite polymorphic, taking on the appearance of a large spreading shrub 5m in height and 6m in width, or the more modest habit of a narrow bush not exceeding 2m in height, depending on its habitat. This species is dioecious, meaning there are male and female subjects.

'Oosterwijk' is a very floriferous female selection, with an upright and rounded habit, reaching about 2m in all directions. The foliage, deciduous in winter, is composed of obovate or lanceolate leaves, long and tapering, measuring from 3 to 9cm, and having toothed edges. The spring shoots turn purple. On mature leaves, the lamina is bright green and shiny on the upper side, lighter and downy on the underside. The autumn colours in shades of orange-yellow with bronze or coppery highlights are beautiful. The flowering takes place in spring, in the form of small white flowers not exceeding 5mm in diameter. When pollination occurs, the female flowers transform into small globular and shiny fruits, red in colour, clustered in small clusters. They are a delight for birds in winter.

'Oosterwijk' meets the expectations of gardeners looking for resistant, colourful, and easy-to-maintain shrubs. It is particularly appreciated for the beautiful touch of colour it brings to the garden, especially in winter, when its branches are adorned with bright red berries. It fits perfectly into a mixed hedge, alongside Elaeagnus 'Zempin', coyote willow, Cotoneaster lacteus, deciduous spindle trees, or elder trees. It is sensitive to limestone, which can yellow its foliage, and prefers moist to wet soils. Very hardy, it withstands temperatures well below -15°C and thrives near water sources and saturated areas. Some gardeners choose to prune it into a small Christmas tree shape, creating a winter spectacle of beautiful red trees. Ideal for cold regions, it pairs well with hawthorns, snowberries, yellow or orange-fruited pyracanthas, and other evergreen hollies.

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Holly: planting, pruning and care
Family sheet
by Eva 12 min.
Holly: planting, pruning and care
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Ilex verticillata Oosterwijk - Winterberry in pictures

Ilex verticillata Oosterwijk - Winterberry (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 2 m
Spread at maturity 2 m
Habit irregular, bushy
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour insignificant
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Solitary
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Fruit colour orange

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green
Product reference • 22065

Planting and care

To plant the whorled holly 'Oosterwijk', add some compost to the soil and incorporate it into your garden soil to slightly acidify and enrich it. If your soil contains active limestone, this holly bush may tend to develop chlorosis (yellowing of the foliage around the leaf veins). In this case, add heather soil and peat during planting and mulch with pine bark, which tends to acidify the soil over the years. Choose a partially shaded location in a warm climate. Follow watering instructions for the first 3 years (preferably with non-limestone water), especially during prolonged dry periods, to help the young plant establish. In the early years, prune in spring to shape the bush, selecting the branches you want to keep. Step back and assess the overall appearance of your holly to determine the shape and arrangement of the short stems. The ilex may be attacked by holly leaf miners, white scale insects in spring, and mites and aphids in summer. Consider a preventive treatment at the beginning of the season.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Back of border
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil, All non-limestone soils, even sandy.

Care

Pruning instructions Pruning is not essential for a free hedge, but it can be useful for a bush planted on its own or grown in a container. Prune the bush before it starts growing again.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

Planting & care advice

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