Winterberry Holly

Soon we’ll begin to pack away the bright-colored holiday lights, ornaments and sprigs of Mistletoe and Holly until next year. The snowy woods outside are nearly devoid of color. Except in wetlands, where the neon red berries of our native holly outlast the holidays, like a leftover fruitcake.

Winterberry Holly lends a bit of color to the stark winter landscape. (Courtesy Phillip Merritt)

Winterberry Holly, sometimes called “Black Alder” is a common wetland shrub. Like all hollies, their flowers grow on separate male and female plants. Unlike their evergreen southern kin, including the familiar Christmas Holly, New Hampshire hollies lose their leaves in winter.

If not for the conspicuous bright, waxy fruits, few people would ever pay attention to this nondescript wetland shrub.

But oh – those red berries! Landscapers love it because it is extremely showy in late fall and early winter when covered with fruit.

I’ve seen would-be wreath makers, pruning shears in hand, willing to wade wetlands to collect berry-laden twigs. An indignant Concord resident wrote a letter to the local newspaper dismayed that her front yard winterberries were stolen, her shrubs “practically clearcut” by somebody who snuck into her yard before Thanksgiving.

While toxic to humans, these hardy berries are an important food for wildlife. Winterberries persist on twigs for weeks in early winter to provide a critical food source and attractant for many winter birds…as well as thieves wielding pruning shears!