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Berry Poppins® Winterberry

Ilex verticillata 'FARROWBPOP'

Proven Winners®
$2659
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: For the best berry production and a dense growth habit, plant in full sun for at least 6 to 8 hours daily. While it handles partial shade well, you will notice fewer berries and a more open, leggy structure in lower light.
  • Soil: These shrubs love consistent moisture and slightly acidic soil, but they are famous for thriving in heavy clay or boggy areas where other plants fail. If your soil is extremely sandy and dry, mix in several inches of compost or peat moss to help hold onto the moisture this plant craves.

Watering Requirements

During the first two years, water deeply twice a week to ensure the roots establish firmly in their new home. Once mature, Berry Poppins is remarkably adaptable to wet feet, though it can handle occasional dry spells better than other winterberries. Inconsistent watering during the summer heat can lead to premature leaf drop or smaller, less vibrant berries in the fall.

Pruning Tips

This variety blooms on new wood, meaning the flowers that become berries grow on the stems produced during the current growing season. The best time for a "haircut" is in early spring before new growth starts, which allows the plant to focus its energy on fresh stems. Avoid heavy pruning every year; instead, remove about one third of the oldest branches down to the ground every few years to keep the shrub rejuvenated and productive.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer or one formulated for acid loving plants in early spring as the buds begin to swell. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this encourages soft new growth that will not have time to harden off before the first frost. This late season growth is easily damaged by winter cold, which can sap the plant's energy for the following spring.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12 Week of March 2nd


Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
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Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Berry Poppins® Winterberry

  • Full Sun/Partial Shade
  • Pest and Disease Free
  • Perfect for Wet Soils
  • Excellent Cut Flowers

Wash away those winter blues while gazing upon these stunning red berries on this dwarf shrub. A perfect way to liven up your winter landscape and feed your birds at the same time.

Berry Poppins® Winterberry, (Ilex verticillata 'Berry Poppins' PP25,835) is perfect for those small areas in your yard. This shrub is ready for everything you want to throw at her. Plant her on banks and slopes, beds and borders, around ponds and streams. Can even be used for hedges and screens.

This deciduous shrub will produce copious amounts of small greenish-white flowers in late spring or early summer. Beautiful elliptic, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves blanket the shrub through the season. Once fall approaches the bright red berries to appear and will make this plant a focal point for your winter landscape. You will need to add a male pollinator, such as Little Goblin® Guy Winterberry Holly to produce the stunning red berries.

This easy-care shrub is a must for your yard. The upright, rounded habit grows up to 3-4 ft tall and wide. Perfect for small gardens. Full to part shade and best grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained, acidic soils. She will tolerate poorly drained soil as well as wet boggy conditions. She does not do well in neutral to alkaline soils and will often die.

Berry Poppins does not like to be pruned. Pruning at any time of the year will impact the number of flowers and berries that the plant will produce. If you see any old branches that are no longer producing vigorous growth then you may remove them in the early spring.

Order yours today from Nature Hills.

Growing Zones 3-9

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Frequently Asked Questions

How tall and wide does Berry Poppins® winterberry grow at maturity?
  • Berry Poppins® winterberry reaches 3-4 feet tall and wide at maturity. This compact, upright rounded habit makes it ideal for small gardens and tight spaces. Plan accordingly when spacing multiple plants for hedges or mass plantings.

Do I need a male plant for Berry Poppins® to produce berries, and which one?
  • Yes, you need a male pollinator for Berry Poppins® to produce its stunning red berries. Little Goblin® Guy Winterberry Holly is the recommended male variety that will pollinate this female shrub. Plant one male for every 6-10 female plants within 50 feet for best results, available at naturehills.com.

What is the compatible male pollinator for Berry Poppins®, like Mr. Poppins®?
  • Berry Poppins® requires Little Goblin® Guy Winterberry Holly as its male pollinator to produce berries. Without a male pollinator nearby, this female shrub won't develop its signature bright red winter berries. Plant one male for every 6-10 female plants within 50 feet for best results.

Does Berry Poppins® require full sun or can it handle part shade?
  • Berry Poppins® Winterberry thrives in both full sun and partial shade conditions. This flexible holly adapts well to varying light levels while still producing abundant red berries for winter interest. Plant it anywhere from sunny borders to partly shaded woodland edges.

What type of soil does Berry Poppins® winterberry prefer, like acidic or moist?
  • Berry Poppins® winterberry thrives in acidic, medium to wet soils and tolerates boggy conditions well. It struggles in neutral to alkaline soils and may die in those conditions. Plant in well-drained acidic soil for best berry production, available at naturehills.com.

Is Berry Poppins® deer resistant and tolerant of road salt?
  • Berry Poppins® Winterberry has good deer resistance, as deer typically avoid holly species due to their natural compounds. Road salt tolerance is moderate to low, so avoid planting directly adjacent to heavily salted roadways. For best results, plant at least 10-15 feet back from roads where salt spray occurs.
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