Ilex Berries - Winterberry
Common Names: Ilex, Winter Berry, Ilex Berries, Deciduous Holly
Botanical names: Ilex verticillata
Availability: Winter
Vase life: 5 to 14 days
Storage temperatures: 36 - 38 degrees Fahrenheit
Ethylene Sensitive: No
Description: Showy, bright red berries (sometimes orange or yellow in specific cultivars) appear along the length of woody stems after leaf drop. Berries remain intact through the winter.
Color: Bright red berries, sometimes orange or yellow.
Botanical facts: Winterberry, is a deciduous holly native to North America. Unlike evergreen hollies, this species loses its leaves in the fall, leaving behind striking clusters of vibrant berries that persist through winter, making it a favorite for cold-season interest in landscapes and floral arrangements.
Design notes: The vibrant red, orange, or yellow berries create eye-catching focal points, especially in holiday and winter-themed pieces. The small, clustered berries add a beautiful, dotted texture that contrasts with smooth petals or foliage. The long, graceful stems can create vertical or horizontal lines for movement and structure.
Purchasing hints: Purchase stems with undamaged bright berries. Avoid stems exhibiting berry fall.
Conditioning: Cut the stem ends with as sharp knife. Hydrate in water mixed with a commercial floral food for two hours before storage or usage.
Additional notes: Ilex is a genus of flowering plants that includes over 400 species of shrubs, trees, and climbers, commonly referred to as "holly."
Video Demonstration: