Gift your garden and local pollinators with something that lasts beyond the holiday season! While it may be chilly in Michigan, late December is the perfect time to plan for a native-forward spring. Native plants like Michigan Holly (Ilex verticillata), also known as Winterberry, are currently showing off their festive red berries, providing critical food for songbirds while the snow flies.
While we enjoy our holiday dinners, local birds like Cedar Waxwings, Robins, and Chickadees rely on these berries for survival during Michigan’s deep freeze. They love our wet Michigan soil and can handle temperatures well below zero!
You can prune a few stems to create stunning, sustainable centerpieces or porch pots at your home!
Michigan Holly is native to Michigan, pollinator friendly in its spring blooms, creates a bird buffet in the winter, and is gorgeous in the snow!
Skip the store-bought decor this year and look to your own backyard. Check out the MSU Extension guide to learn how to add this native gem to your landscape. Who else is lucky enough to have these berries brightening up their view today?
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/winterberry_michigans_native_holly