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Winterberry is one of about 10 native Holly species in the Carolinas.When most folks think about holly, they picture the evergreen shrubs with dark, glossy, sharply pointed leaves and dark red berries. But not all hollies are evergreen. Some are deciduous like the Winterberry, with leaves that turn gold and fall to the ground between October and November. Mountain Winterberry is most noticeable at this time of year. It catches your eye because there aren't many deciduous trees with bright red berries attached directly to the woody stems. In spring and summer it looks just like any other nondescript small woodland tree, with inconspicuous green and white flowers along the stems. Mountain Winterberry can grow to the size of a small tree and occurs throughout our woodlands.  There is a second deciduous holly you might come across - the very similar Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), also called Black Alder. Black Alder also grows throughout our region, but prefers the moister terrain along stream banks and in low woods. You will also see the more "typical" dark-leaved evergreen holly, Ilex opaca, throughout our forests.