Pygmy Caragana vs Winterberry - TreeTime.ca

Pygmy Caragana vs Winterberry

Caragana pygmaea

Ilex verticillata

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Pygmy Caragana
Winterberry

Pygmy Caragana is a shrub that is related to Common Caragana and has a compact size that is suitable for yards with limited space. Its size is perfect for landscaping and decorative hedges, and requires little maintenance. This nitrogen fixer has fine-textured foliage and small yellow flowers. Much like Common Caragana, it is hardy and drought tolerant.

Popular as a low maintenance commercial landscaping shrub and for hedging. This species does have tiny spines that might poke you a bit. It has a nice appealing texture when 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.

Pygmy Caragana Quick Facts

Winterberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 3a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Foliage: yellow-green
Fall colour: bright orange to red
Flowers: prolific tiny yellow pea-like flowers
Berries: bright red, stays through winter
Seeds: prolific seedpods are edible
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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