3 Gallon
‘Sparkleberry’ is a deciduous hybrid female winterberry that typically matures to 6-10’ tall and as wide. It is the result of a cross between Ilex serrata and Ilex verticillata. It is noted for its dense, heavy fruiting of bright red berries, with good retention of the fruit throughout winter. This is a slow-growing, deciduous, multi-stemmed, suckering shrub with an upright-rounded habit. Lustrous dark green leaves (to 3” long) turn yellow-bronze in fall. Relatively inconspicuous greenish-white flowers appear in the leaf axils in late spring. Flowers, if properly pollinated, give way to a profuse crop of glossy red berries (5/16” diameter) in fall. Showy berries will persist throughout the winter (hence the common name) and often to early spring. Berries provide considerable impact and interest to the winter landscape. Berries are a food source for birds. 'Sparkleberry' (and male clone 'Apollo') were developed at the National Arboretum in 1961 and released into commerce in 1978.
Height: 6 - 10'
Spread: 6 - 10'
Spacing: 6 - 10'
Exposure: Full Sun (6+ Hours) or Part Sun (4 to 6 hours)
Blooms: Late Spring into Early Summer