Go Back Winterberry ‘Southern Gentleman’

Posted: February 28, 2022 at 9:45 AM
Ilex verticillata 'Southern Gentleman'
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Plant Type: Deciduous Shrubs

Plant ‘Southern Gentleman’ in full sun to partial shade. It is adaptable to various soil types, including heavy clay, but it requires an acidic soil. Prune to shape in early spring just before new growth appears. Because ‘Southern Gentleman’ is a male plant, it produces no fruit.

Winterberry is dioecious, meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. The ‘Southern Gentleman’ cultivar is the late-blooming male pollinator plant for other, late-blooming, female Ilex verticillata plants. You need a ratio of one male winterberry for every 6 to10 female plants. The late blooming female I. verticillata cultivars include ‘Cacapon’, ‘Shaver’, ‘Sparkleberry’, ‘Sunset’, ‘Winter Gold’, and ‘Winter Red’.

Plant as a hedge, border tree, or foundation planting. As it prefers moist soil and can tolerate poorly drained soils, it can also be planted near a pond or in a rain garden. The foliage is a food source for wildlife. It is also a host plant for butterflies and attracts  specialized bees.

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Growing & Maintenance Tips:

Flower Color

White.

Foliage Color

Dark Green. Fall: yellow/green to purple/bronze.

Plant Spread

6-9'

Good Companions

Plant with 'Winter Red' Winterberry for pollination.

Plant Height

6-9'

Scape Height

na

Hardness Zone

4-9

Soil Moisture

dry or wet conditions

Characteristics & Attributes

Attributes

—

Bloom Time

mid summer

Critter Resistance

rabbits/deer

Exposure

Full sun

Growth Rate

fast

Seasonal Interests

fall