Ilex verticillata Oosterwijk - Winterberry
Ilex verticillata Oosterwijk - Winterberry
Ilex verticillata Oosterwijk
Winterberry, Black Alder, Michigan Holly
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Available in 3 sizes
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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty
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We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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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.
Ilex verticillata Oosterwijk - Winterberry in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
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
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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