Four seasons in the garden (Glebe house in Ottawa)
As fall transitions to winter, berries change from green to bright red, where they will glow brilliantly during the winter, providing food for the birds when they need it most. Winterberry shrubs enjoy a sunny but moist location for best growing conditions. It's also important to have both male and female plants (about a 1:4 ratio), and for them to have the same period of pollen receptivity for the female and pollen production for the male, otherwise there will be a suboptimal production of berries (check the details with your local nursery, horticulturalist or landscape designer or landscape architect). Winterberry shrubs take time to produce their berries, so the sooner they are planted, the better. This female plant is approximately 5 years of age and is situated in optimal conditions, with a male plant nearby. Photo credit: M A Jaworski Landscape Design