Winterberry

Ilex verticillata Mr. Poppins® – Small Shrub, Big Impact

Meet the must-have pollinator for your winterberry display. ‘Mr. Poppins®’ Winterberry Holly is a compact, hardy male variety essential for berry production on female hollies like Berry Poppins® or Red Sprite. Though he doesn’t produce berries himself, he plays a vital role in setting the stage for a stunning show of red fruit in fall and winter.

Easy to grow, native, and tough in the cold—he’s a quiet hero in the garden story.

Quick Specs

• Height & Width: 3–4' tall x 3–4' wide

• Zone: Hardy in USDA Zones 3–9

• Light Requirements: Full sun to part sun

• Bloom Time & Color: Spring; small white blooms

• Uses: Pollinator plant for female winterberry hollies, native plantings, mixed borders

• Special Attributes:

  • Native and low-maintenance

  • Essential male pollinator for berry-producing varieties

  • Cold-hardy and adaptable

  • Compact size fits smaller landscapes

Plant near a female variety like Berry Poppins® for a bright winterberry display you—and the birds—will love.