winterberry
noun
win·ter·ber·ry
ˈwin-tər-ˌber-ē 
1
: an eastern North American shrub (Ilex verticillata) of the holly family with axillary flowers, usually bright red berries, and deciduous leaves that turn black in the fall
called also black alder
2
: any of several congeneric shrubs or small trees (such as Ilex laevigata of the eastern U.S.)
Examples of winterberry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Name: Ilex verticillata Size: 3-18 feet tall, 2-12 feet wide
Zones: 3-9
Fruits and leaves of winterberry are somewhat toxic.4
20 of 20
Leucothoe
Leucothoe is a low-growing shrub that prefers shade but will adapt to more sun if the soil remains constantly moist.
—
Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
In the garden, winterberry is hardy in a wider range than its evergreen cousin, from Zones 3-9.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Dec. 2024
The simple, iridescent jar blends seamlessly into anyone’s home while notes of evergreen, crisp apple and winterberry gently fill the space.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
The winterberry holly is a bit slower.
—Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2020
Other cool-weather shrubs to consider for the region include witch hazel, winter jasmine, viburnum and winterberry.
—oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2021
Volunteers planted a winterberry holly tree last month at Mass Audubon’s Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, the last of nearly 600 plantings in a four-year transformation that returns a longtime Plymouth cranberry farm back to its natural state.
—BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2021
Channel winter’s most universal plant, the winterberry, with pops of red jacquard tablecloths and marbleized coasters atop your dining tables.
—Ciarra Lorren Zatorski, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2020
Consulting ecologist and president of Prairie Nursery in Westfield, Neil Diboll mentioned native winterberry (Ilex verticillata) as a good choice for winterscaping.
—Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2020
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Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
In the garden, winterberry is hardy in a wider range than its evergreen cousin, from Zones 3-9.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Dec. 2024
The simple, iridescent jar blends seamlessly into anyone’s home while notes of evergreen, crisp apple and winterberry gently fill the space.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
The winterberry holly is a bit slower.
—Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2020
Other cool-weather shrubs to consider for the region include witch hazel, winter jasmine, viburnum and winterberry.
—oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2021
Volunteers planted a winterberry holly tree last month at Mass Audubon’s Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, the last of nearly 600 plantings in a four-year transformation that returns a longtime Plymouth cranberry farm back to its natural state.
—BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2021
Channel winter’s most universal plant, the winterberry, with pops of red jacquard tablecloths and marbleized coasters atop your dining tables.
—Ciarra Lorren Zatorski, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2020
Consulting ecologist and president of Prairie Nursery in Westfield, Neil Diboll mentioned native winterberry (Ilex verticillata) as a good choice for winterscaping.
—Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Winterberry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winterberry. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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