Michigan Holly (Ilex verticillata)
Michigan Holly (aka Winterberry) is probably most notable for its bright red berries that hang on well into winter. These berries add color to the landscape and are an emergency food source used by many different types of birds. Although the berries are not a preferred source of food, they are eaten by many birds because they persist in good condition through the winter when food is scarce. Michigan Holly is also the host plant for 35 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) including the threatened Henrys’ Elfin (mnfi.anr.msu.edu). In addition, it is the host plant for the specialist bees Colletes banksi (Jarrod Fowler) and C. brimley (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It spreads slowly by root suckering (illinoiswildflowers.info).
NOTE: This species is typically dioecious meaning male and female flowers are present on separate plants. These plants are UNSEXED - 'Unsexed' means the plants are not old enough to show male or female characteristics. A plant with male flowers is needed within 50 feet of a plant with female flowers for pollination and berry development, so be sure to place your plants within this range of each other.
Photo Credit: Nicholas Tonelli
Michigan Holly (aka Winterberry) is probably most notable for its bright red berries that hang on well into winter. These berries add color to the landscape and are an emergency food source used by many different types of birds. Although the berries are not a preferred source of food, they are eaten by many birds because they persist in good condition through the winter when food is scarce. Michigan Holly is also the host plant for 35 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) including the threatened Henrys’ Elfin (mnfi.anr.msu.edu). In addition, it is the host plant for the specialist bees Colletes banksi (Jarrod Fowler) and C. brimley (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It spreads slowly by root suckering (illinoiswildflowers.info).
NOTE: This species is typically dioecious meaning male and female flowers are present on separate plants. These plants are UNSEXED - 'Unsexed' means the plants are not old enough to show male or female characteristics. A plant with male flowers is needed within 50 feet of a plant with female flowers for pollination and berry development, so be sure to place your plants within this range of each other.
Photo Credit: Nicholas Tonelli
Michigan Holly (aka Winterberry) is probably most notable for its bright red berries that hang on well into winter. These berries add color to the landscape and are an emergency food source used by many different types of birds. Although the berries are not a preferred source of food, they are eaten by many birds because they persist in good condition through the winter when food is scarce. Michigan Holly is also the host plant for 35 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) including the threatened Henrys’ Elfin (mnfi.anr.msu.edu). In addition, it is the host plant for the specialist bees Colletes banksi (Jarrod Fowler) and C. brimley (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It spreads slowly by root suckering (illinoiswildflowers.info).
NOTE: This species is typically dioecious meaning male and female flowers are present on separate plants. These plants are UNSEXED - 'Unsexed' means the plants are not old enough to show male or female characteristics. A plant with male flowers is needed within 50 feet of a plant with female flowers for pollination and berry development, so be sure to place your plants within this range of each other.
Photo Credit: Nicholas Tonelli
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium
Height: Up to 10 feet
Plant Spacing: 3-5 feet
Bloom Time: June-July
Bloom Color: White
Advantages: Caterpillar Favorite, Bird Favorite, Great landscaping plant
Host Plant: 35 species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org)
Specialist Bee: Colletes banksi (Jarrod Fowler) and C. brimley (Johnson and Colla, 2023)
Beneficial for Endangered or Threatened Species: Henrys’ Elfin (Incisalia Henrici) (mnfi.anr.msu.edu)
Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023
