Siberian Fir vs Winterberry - TreeTime.ca

Siberian Fir vs Winterberry

Abies sibirica

Ilex verticillata

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

CUSTOM GROW

Siberian Fir
Winterberry

Siberian Fir is an evergreen tree best known for its strong aroma. This tree's needles are popular for essential oils and aromatherapy. It also grows softwood that is used for furniture and wood pulp. This species is very cold hardy and shade tolerant.

This species is bright green and conical shaped. Most interesting is its upright blue cones that fade into brown as they mature.

Winterberry is a small shrub that produces large quantities of bright red berries that remain on the plant through the fall and into the winter. Adding this shrub to your yard will give it a unique splash of color and attract birds, especially after the leaves drop.

Note: although the foliage is attractive on its own, you need at least one male plant near your female plants or they won't produce berries.

Siberian Fir Quick Facts

Winterberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 30 m (100 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: partial shade
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Foliage: yellow-green
Fall colour: bright orange to red
Bark: smooth, mostly brown with green in places
Flowers: bright pink cone-like
Berries: bright red, stays through winter
Cones: long and cylindrical cones, turning from blue to brown
Seeds: cones break up into triangular seeds
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: black alder, canada holly, coralberry, fever bush, michigan holly, winterberry holly