winterberry holly

Also known as Black Alder, Canada Holly, Coralberry

Unlike most evergreen hollies, winterberry drops its leaves each autumn to reveal thousands of brilliant scarlet berries clustered along bare branches. These persistent fruits cling to gray stems throughout the cold months, creating a vivid splash of color across snowy wetlands and damp woodlands. The nutrient-dense berries serve as a vital winter lifeline for dozens of songbird species when other food sources become scarce.