Which one is winterberry?
Written by Kiah Walker, Biologist at Minute Man National Historical Park
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and Asian bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) both retain their bright red fruits in winter, providing a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife. However, winterberry is a native shrub that grows near wetlands, while bittersweet is an invasive vine that often wraps itself around other plants. Bittersweet also has a distinctive yellow sheath enclosing each red fruit, which dries and splits open when ripe.
Answer: Winterberry is on the left and bittersweet is on the left.