Holly of the Year 2010

Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite'

‘Red Sprite’ is an excellent, dwarf form of the native winterberry, Ilex verticillata. Like all winterberries, the plant is deciduous. In the autumn, the leaves turn yellow and then fall to reveal abundant, large red fruit. The fruits persist well into the winter, and attract a variety of wildlife, including robins, mockingbirds, and bluebirds. 

Compared to other winterberries, ‘Red Sprite’ is fairly slow-growing and compact, maturing at three to four feet in height and width. This size makes ‘Red Sprite’ particularly useful for smaller properties, and also for group plantings. ‘Red Sprite’ enjoys a sunny to partly shaded location. The plant is tolerant of moist soil, and will thrive in locations which remain wet for long periods in the spring, or after heavy rains. For best fruit set, plant an early-flowering male winterberry nearby, such as ‘Jim Dandy’ or ‘Skipjack’. 

‘Red Sprite’ originated as a chance seedling near Hampden, Massachusetts, and was registered with the Holly Society of America in 1980. Like most winterberries, it is adaptable to a wide climatic range, and grows from Zones 3 through 9 in the U.S. and Canada. ‘Red Sprite’ is readily propagated by softwood cuttings, and container-grown specimens are available from many nurseries including mail order sources.

Photo by James F. Resch