Little Goblin Guy Winterberry Holly

Little Goblin® Guy is a compact male winterberry holly selected to pollinate the female Little Goblin® Orange and Little Goblin® Red cultivars. It does not produce berries itself, but its flowers help those nearby female plants set their winter fruit. Plan for a mature height and spread of 3–4 feet in full sun to part shade. ## Selection and season The exact selection is Ilex verticillata ‘NCIV3’, a deciduous, compact, rounded shrub bred at North Carolina State University by Thomas Green Ranney. Its small white flowers are listed for spring and summer by [Proven Winners](https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/ilex/little-goblin-guy-winterberry-holly-ilex-verticillata); the patent describes summer flowering in Mills River. The seller lists USDA zones 3–9. [Spring Meadow Nursery](https://springmeadownursery.com/plantfinder/little-goblin-guy-48190) recommends one male for up to five female Little Goblin hollies, planted within about 50 feet. ## Site and landscape Choose full sun or part shade. It does best in moist to very moist, slightly acidic soil, tolerates average soil, and is listed for wet sites; avoid high-pH locations. Use it in a hedge or mass planting, or in a wildlife garden, cutting garden, or naturalized planting. The [North Carolina Extension species guide](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ilex-verticillata/) adds broader winterberry guidance on moisture and cross-pollination. The cultivar is recorded as ‘NCIV3’ in the [Canadian Food Inspection Agency variety record](https://active.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pbrpov/cropreport/hol/app00010126e.shtml). Its U.S. plant patent is PP 28,937, issued February 6, 2018; the Canadian record lists certificate 5936. See the [patent record](https://patents.justia.com/patent/PP28937). ## Maintenance This slow-growing shrub rarely needs pruning. If shaping is needed, prune just after flowering; it blooms on old wood, so avoid pruning beforehand. Keep soil from drying out, especially where reliable pollination and fruit set on nearby female plants are desired.