{% assign use_variant_images = false %}
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{% assign last_slide = 0 %} {%- for image in images offset: imgOffset -%}
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{% if forloop.first or product.tags contains 'Graphic Overlay'%}
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{% assign last_slide = forloop.index %} {% endfor %}
All media depicts mature plants.

Mr. Poppins® Winterberry Holly (Ilex)

SHRUB

Description

  • Space-saving winterberry holly is just a fraction of the size of other types.
  • Does not produce berries, but is required for females to produce berries.
  • Mr. Poppins pollinates female varieties!
  • Tiny white flowers in late spring.
  • Plant one Mr. Poppins for up to five females.
  • Zones 3-9, sun/part sun, 4' tall x 4' wide at maturity.
Zone 3-9
Light part sun/sun
medium

{% capture DiscountGroup %}1{% endcapture %} {% capture DiscountTier %}2{% endcapture %} {% assign DiscountGroup = DiscountGroup | plus: 0 %} {% assign DiscountTier = DiscountTier | plus: 0 %} {% assign discount_amount = 0 %} {% for group in product.discounts_structure.groups %} {% if group.id == DiscountGroup %} {% for tier in group.tiers %} {% if tier.id == DiscountTier %} {% for discount in tier.discount %} {% if discount.min_quantity > variant.quantity %}{% break %}{% endif %} {% assign discount_amount = discount.discount_amount | times: 100 %} {% endfor %} {% break %} {% endif %} {% endfor %} {% break %} {% endif %} {% endfor %} {% if variant.price < variant.compare_at_price %} Sale {{- variant.price | minus: discount_amount | money | remove: ' ' -}}
{{- variant.compare_at_price | money | remove: ' ' -}} {% else %} {{- variant.price | money | remove: ' ' -}} {% endif %} Each

Buy More, Save More:
    {% for discountGroup in product.discounts_structure.groups %} {% if discountGroup.id == 1 %} {% for discountTier in discountGroup.tiers %} {% if discountTier.id == 2%} {% for discount in discountTier.discount %}
  • {% assign discount_amount = discount.discount_amount | times: 100 %} {% assign tier_ceiling = 10000 %} {% if discountTier.discount[forloop.index] != blank %}{% assign tier_ceiling = discountTier.discount[forloop.index].min_quantity | minus: 1 %}{% endif %}
    {{ variant.price | money | remove: ' ' }} {{ variant.price | minus: discount_amount | money | remove: ' ' }} / {{ discount.min_quantity }}{% if discountTier.discount[forloop.index] != blank %}-{{ discountTier.discount[forloop.index].min_quantity | minus: 1 }}{% else %}+{% endif %} qty.
    • {% endfor %} {% endif %} {% endfor %} {% endif %} {% endfor %}
Total
{% capture DiscountGroup %}1{% endcapture %} {% capture DiscountTier %}2{% endcapture %} {% assign DiscountGroup = DiscountGroup | plus: 0 %} {% assign DiscountTier = DiscountTier | plus: 0 %} {% assign discount_amount = 0 %} {% for group in product.discounts_structure.groups %} {% if group.id == DiscountGroup %} {% for tier in group.tiers %} {% if tier.id == DiscountTier %} {% for discount in tier.discount %} {% if discount.min_quantity > variant.quantity %}{% break %}{% endif %} {% assign discount_amount = variant.quantity | times: discount.discount_amount | times: 100 %} {% endfor %} {% break %} {% endif %} {% endfor %} {% break %} {% endif %} {% endfor %}
{{ variant.price | times: variant.quantity | minus: discount_amount | money | remove: ' ' }}
{% if discount_amount > 0 %} Saved {{ discount_amount | money | remove: ' ' }} {% endif %}
{% for option in product.options_with_values %} {% assign optionIndex = forloop.index0 %} {% assign position = forloop.index %}
{{option.name}}
{% assign sortedvalues = option.values %} {% if option.name contains 'Length' or option.name contains 'Width' or option.name contains 'Height' or option.name contains 'Depth' or option.name contains 'Thickness' or option.name contains 'Weight' %} {% assign sortedvalues = option.values | sort %} {% endif %} {% for value in sortedvalues %} {% assign inventory_quantity = 0 %} {% assign available = false %} {% assign optionVariant = false %} {% if product.options_with_values.size == 3 and optionIndex == 2%} {% for v in product.variants %} {% unless v.bogus %} {% if v.option1 == variant.option1 and v.option2 == variant.option2 and v.option3 == value %} {% assign optionVariant = v %} {% assign inventory_quantity = inventory_quantity | plus: v.inventory_quantity %} {% if v.available %}{% assign available = true %}{% endif %} {% endif %} {% endunless %} {% endfor %} {% elsif product.options_with_values.size == 2 and optionIndex == 1%} {% for v in product.variants %} {% unless v.bogus %} {% if v.option1 == variant.option1 and v.option2 == value %} {% assign optionVariant = v %} {% assign inventory_quantity = inventory_quantity | plus: v.inventory_quantity %} {% if v.available %}{% assign available = true %}{% endif %} {% endif %} {% endunless %} {% endfor %} {% else %} {% for v in product.variants %} {% unless v.bogus %} {% if v.option1 == value %} {% assign optionVariant = v %} {% assign inventory_quantity = inventory_quantity | plus: v.inventory_quantity %} {% if v.available %}{% assign available = true %}{% endif %} {% endif %} {% endunless %} {% endfor %} {% endif %} {% assign checked = "" %} {% if variant.options[optionIndex] == value%}{% assign checked = "checked" %}{% endif %} {% endfor %}
{% endfor %}
More Info on Plant Sizes

{% capture add_to_cart %}Neptune.cart.add({ id:{{ variant.id | json }}, quantity:{{ variant.quantity }}, properties:{ '_growingzone':['3a', '3b', '4a', '4b', '5a', '5b', '6a', '6b', '7a', '7b', '8a', '8b', '9a', '9b'],'shipping_exclusions':''} }, '.atcprod-{{ variant.id }}', { quantity: {{ variant.quantity }}, image: '//www.greatgardenplants.com/cdn/shop/products/Ilex-verticillata-mr-poppins-winterberry-holly-1.jpg?v=1608001060', title: 'Mr. Poppins® Winterberry Holly (Ilex)', option: 'One Quart' }); return false;{% endcapture %} {% assign discontinued = '' %} {% for tag in product.tags %} {% if tag contains 'discontinued' %} {% assign discontinued = 'true' %} {% endif %} {% endfor %} {% if variant.available %} {% else %} {% unless discontinued == 'true' %} Notify Me When Available {% endunless %} {% endif %}
{% if error %}
{{error.description}}
{% endif %}
View Detailed Plant Information
↓

Plant Spacing

Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:

bush distance

Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:

bush distance zigzag
white plant in hand icon

Hand-picked at our greenhouse

white shipped to door icon

Shipped to your door

Young plant icon

Arrives as young plant

background image

More Information

Description Mr. Poppins® winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is a space-saving male selection from Proven Winners. Though it does not develop berries, it must be planted near one of our female varieties for them to produce fruit. The nice thing about Mr. Poppins winterberry holly is that it is a space-saving dwarf selection, reaching just 3-4’ tall and wide. That means you can tuck this less-showy (but no less important!) plant in an out-of-the-way spot in your landscape and position the flashy female plants where they can get noticed. As long as all of the plants are within 50’ of each other, you can be assured that pollination will occur. A note about winterberry holly pollination: Winterberry holly plants are either male or female, and both a male and female plant need to be present in order for fruit to form on the female. Mr. Poppins is a male variety that is used to pollinate female varieties, like Berry Heavy or Berry Poppins. You can plant one male to pollinate up to 5 female selections. Wondering how far apart you can plant the male and female holly plants? Anywhere within about 50’ of each other – the distance you can expect a pollinator to fly on a single foraging trip – is suitable. Details Botanical name: Ilex verticillata 'FARROWMRP'
Patent #: USPP 25,834
Common name: Winterberry holly, Male winterberry holly
Zone: 3 - 9
Sun exposure: Full sun (6+hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 3-4' tall and wide
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of Interest: Spring
Bloom time: Spring
Features: Winter interest, rabbit resistant, Proven Winners, native, heat tolerant, fall color, deer resistant, cold tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Hedge, native plant gardens, wildlife gardens
 How To Grow Soil: Moist but well-drained soils are best. Established winterberry holly can take some dryness.
Light: Full sun (6+ hrs/day) to part sun (4-6 hrs/day). Can grow in full shade, but flowering will be diminished, and plants will be less full.
Water: Average
Space: Plant Mr. Poppins within 50' of your female plants.
Fertilizing: Little needed. If desired, fertilize in early spring, once the ground has thawed, with a granular rose fertilizer. A second application may be made in late spring/early summer as well.
Winterizing: Nothing special required.
Maintenance & Pruning: Male plants do not develop berries, so can be pruned immediately after bloom if desired. However, it's best to avoid pruning them altogether except to remove any dead wood and once mature, to remove one or two of the oldest stems each year to encourage new and vigorous growth.
 

Garden Care

Our Guide for Fall Planting

The start of fall may signal the gardening season is coming to a close, but it’s not over yet! There is still plenty of time to enjoy colorful flowers and foliage or even sprinkle in some new perennials and shrubs before winter arrives.

Grow with confidence

Customer Reviews

Based on 31 reviews
68%
(21)
6%
(2)
16%
(5)
0%
(0)
10%
(3)
D
D.R. (Arkansas)
Fall planting

The plants arrived on time and are healthy and thriving since they were planted.

E
E.E. (Maryland)
They were so small!

I was taken aback by the small size of Mr. Poppins Winterberry and the 3 Berry Poppins plants, 4 in all. They were pruned quite small, the reason for the pruning explained in your literature. Still, they look very vulnerable. Some leaves dropped from one plant. I hope the root system is extensive enough to anchor them well into the soil and provide good protection over the Winter. I have watered them often and will mulch deeply once we start to get colder. For the price, I had expected at least to have more of the plant above the surface. This is NOT a holiday tree so I will take you up on your guarantee in the Spring, if necessary.
Thank you. E. Emling

We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! All orders are covered by our fall guarantee, so please reach out to claims@greatgardenplants.com to start the claims process if necessary.

P
P.W. (Vermont)
Great plant

Here in Vermont winter comes early I had time to plant Mr. Poppins winterberry bush with plenty of time for it to get established . Arrived very healthy . Was absolutely pleased .

R
R.C. (Missouri)
Very pleased with Mr. Poppins!

The plant is healthy and came with great instructions. So far so good!

J
J.C. (North Carolina)
Transplanted perfectly!

I ordered a one gallon Mr. Poppins as I wanted the best chance for it to survive as I only ordered one. I planted as soon as I received it but I have not babied it. It is just as perfect as when it arrived. No transplant shock at all! I've ordered tons of online plants and I always have transplant shock issues....not a one with these Berry Poppins! I'm so excited to see them fruit next year.

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