Full sun to part shade is best, with a soil pH on the acid side. Chicago gardeners can amend their alkaline soil with equal parts peat moss and pine bark to encourage better growth. Since the most ornamental feature of these plants is their berry display, try planting them in masses against an evergreen backdrop. For every five female plants, remember to plant one male plant to pollinate the female flowers for the best berry display. Suitable for a variety of landscaping styles, winterberry can grow between 6 to 10 feet, although the more compact cultivars generally remain under 5 feet, in height as well as width.
Plants can vary from attractive mounding forms to more upright shapes.
Leaves are small, leathery and dark green, with some cultivars exhibiting a short display of yellow-orange fall color. A full display of red berries can come as early as September, with some varieties holding onto them for several months. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, winterberries are found massed throughout most major garden areas, from the Naturalistic Garden to the Japanese Garden. The west courtyard of the Horticulture Building features an extremely attractive planting of 'Shaver', a compact winterberry with large, dark red fruit that lasts into early winter. The Plant Evaluation Program is currently evaluating winterberries for winter hardiness, fruit production and overall plant health.