Red Sprite Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite') is a compact, deciduous shrub renowned for its striking bright red berries that last throughout the winter, providing vibrant color to your garden during the dormant season. Growing to a height of just 3 to 4 feet, Red Sprite Winterberry is ideal for small garden spaces, foundation plantings, or mixed borders. The berries are visually appealing and serve as a valuable food source for birds, adding aesthetic and ecological benefits to your landscape. With its tidy, rounded growth habit and stunning winter interest, Red Sprite Winterberry Holly makes a perfect addition to any garden setting, creating an eye-catching display of color when most other plants have gone dormant.

For successful berry production, it is essential to plant a compatible male pollinator nearby. Red Sprite Winterberry Holly requires a male pollinator, such as , which blooms at the same time and will ensure a good berry set on the female plant. Ideally, plant one Jim Dandy for every three to five Red Sprite shrubs to provide effective pollination. Ensure the pollinator is planted within 50 feet of the female holly to maximize pollination success. Both Red Sprite and Jim Dandy thrive in USDA zones 4-8, and they prefer moist, slightly acidic soil, making them suitable for rain gardens, wet areas, or along pond edges.

Red Sprite Winterberry Holly is low-maintenance and highly adaptable to different growing conditions, from full sun to partial shade. This shrub tolerates wet soils and can thrive in locations where many other plants struggle. It provides excellent winter interest with its vibrant berries that persist even after the leaves drop. Prune in late winter or early spring, before new growth starts, to maintain its compact form and encourage abundant flowering and berry production. By incorporating Red Sprite Winterberry Holly into your garden, you can enjoy its vibrant winter color, attract birds, and create a beautiful, wildlife-friendly landscape year-round.