Ilex x ‘Sparkleberry’

‘Sparkleberry’ is a deciduous hybrid female winterberry that typically matures to 6-10’ tall and as wide. 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.  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. (Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder)