Winterberry, Winterberry Holly, Michigan Holly, Christmas Berry, Black Alder                 I-leks ver-ti-si-LA-ta

• Deciduous shrub, to 10 ft (3 m), spreading branches, oval to broad-rounded, suckers and forms multistemmed clumps.  Leaves alternate, simple, variable shaped (elliptic to oblong-lanceolate), 3.5-7 cm long, tip acute or acuminate, base wedge-shaped (cuneate), margin singly or doubly serrate, dark green above, usually pubescent below, at least on the veins.  Dioecious -male and female plants.  Flowers white, 4-7 parted, short stalked, male flowers 3-10 per cluster, female flowers singly or 2-3 per cluster.  Fruit globose, bright red, about 6 mm wide, often in pairs.
• Sun to partial shade.  Adapts to many soil types, best in moist, organic soil.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 3     Native range extends over much of eastern and central North America.  Many selections available in commerce, Dirr (1998) lists over 30.