Ilex verticillata Magical® Citronella (Winterberry Holly) Unity Grown

Ilex verticillata Magical® Citronella is an attractive golden-fruited cultivar of winterberry holly, a deciduous shrub native to much of the eastern United States. Without the sharp-spined leaves of species like American holly, winterberry holly is instead noted for its attractive berries, which are produced in the late summer and which persist through much of the winter. For Magical® Citronella, these berries are bright golden yellow and produced in huge number along the shrub’s branches! Although wild winterberry hollies may reach heights of up to 15', Magical® Citronella  is considered a semi-dwarf variety, and typically grows to about 4-5’ tall and wide.

Overall an excellent and versatile pick for the home landscape, Magical® Citronella is resistant to salt, wet soil, and deer damage, and can be used in rain, pollinator, and children's gardens as well as smaller spaces in the garden and low, seasonal hedges. Ilex verticillata Magical® Citronella is an attractive addition to any landscape, and has the ecological appeal to match, feeding butterfly larvae, pollinators, and birds all year long. From spring into the summer, winterberry holly produces inconspicuous white flowers that attract many kinds of pollinators; as an all-female cultivar, Magical® Citronella must be matched with a male pollinator cultivar like Ilex verticillata 'Southern Gentleman' in order to produce berries. One male plant for every 6-10 females should suffice, and this combination of pollinating partners will produce unbelievably numerous, attractive, bright yellow berries that persist through the fall and winter, supporting bird populations and serving as an incredibly showy addition to the winter garden.