Winterberry Holly, Black Alder 'Jim Dandy'

In southeast Pennsylvania this male cultivar usually is matched with the very similar 'Red Sprite' as the female berry bearer. Both culti...Read Morevars in landscapes usually only get about 5 to 6 feet high and are therefore more compact growing than the other cultivars or the straight species. It is commonly planted in this region, though not as much as 'Southern Gentleman & 'Winter red'.

'Jim Dandy' winterberry is a male plant necessary for pollination of all the wonderful fruiting female plants that have overlapping bloom...Read More time. These female clones include 'Afterglow', 'Aurantiaca', 'Chrysocarpa', 'Red Sprite', and 'Stoplight' among many others. This early and heavy blooming plant was selected and introduced by the late Bob Simpson, extraordinary nurseryman from Vincennes IN.

One can determine the sex of a winterberry when it is in bloom (if it is not known if it fruits or not) by examining the small flowers. If the flowers have projecting stamens, it is a male plant. If the flowers only have a rounded bump in the center, then it is a female plant.

'Jim Dandy' requires no more effort to grow than any other winterberry, looking only for regular moisture (loves wet sites, like by a downspout) and soil on the acid side, though I have grown all ranges of deciduous hollies in KY on circumneutral clay loam soils.

I have two of these winterberry bushes that reside at each corner of my back porch. They appreciate a little extra water during the summ...Read Moreer, but will handle dry stretches without too much stress.

In the summer honeybees will cover the small whitish blossoms for weeks. Easily pruned in early spring or late fall to keep in shape and will provide wonderful red berries in the fall for the birds. The foliage is a nice medium green.

One of those bushes that you plant and don't think about unless it's blooming or has berries on it. A nice little bush!