Stop Light Winterberry Holly

Stop Light Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata 'Stop Light')

Stop Light Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata 'Stop Light') is a vibrant female cultivar known for its exceptionally bright red berries that create a high-contrast winter display. With a strong upright habit and heavy fruiting, this deciduous native holly serves as a striking focal point in cold-season landscapes, providing bold color and ecological value.

Distinctive Features

'Stop Light' produces an abundance of intense, glossy red berries on bare stems in late fall and winter. Its dark green foliage provides contrast through the growing season before dropping in fall to highlight the persistent fruit. Reaching 6 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide, this cultivar brings strong structure and seasonal interest, especially when paired with compatible male pollinators.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Moist, acidic soil; tolerant of clay and periodically wet sites
• Water: Moderate to high; benefits from consistent moisture
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3�8

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Vivid berries offer unmatched winter color and landscape contrast
• Wildlife Gardens: Attracts birds with its persistent cold-season fruit
• Mixed Borders: Pairs well with evergreens, ornamental grasses, and late-season perennials
• Rain Gardens: Thrives in moisture-retentive or low-lying planting sites
• Cut Branches: Berries are ideal for holiday arrangements and seasonal d�cor

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Keep evenly moist during establishment; tolerates wet soil once mature
• Pruning: Minimal; prune in late winter to shape if needed
• Fertilizing: Use a balanced, acid-forming fertilizer in spring
• Mulching: Helps retain soil moisture and reduce weed growth
• Pollination: Requires a male pollinator such as Ilex verticillata 'Southern Gentleman'

Why Choose Stop Light Winterberry Holly?

• Striking Winter Color: Berries glow against bare stems or snowy backdrops
• Reliable Fruiting: Heavy and consistent berry production
• Structural Form: Upright shape adds vertical interest to borders
• Native Performance: Hardy and well-suited to wetland and woodland edges
• Focal Point: A bold addition to landscapes seeking vivid winter interest

Ilex verticillata 'Stop Light' brings seasonal brilliance and dependable structure to gardens, offering vivid winter color, ecological benefits, and low-maintenance beauty in a native, adaptable form.