Woodie's Picks: Ornamental Berry Bushes To Bring Bold Fall Color
As temperatures drop and leaves begin to fall, many are searching for things to keep their landscapes lively and bright! Walking through the greenhouses this week, I couldn't help but notice how vibrant and eye catching the various berry-producing shrubs were!
This week for Woodie's picks, we've decided to center in on four of our favorite unique and bold-colored ornamental berry shrubs! These hardy shrubs produce electric berries that persist well into the winter season when much else has lost its luster and color. Not to mention these plants offer a multitude of benefits to the landscape!
Benefits of Planting Berry Shrubs
There are a multitude of benefits berry bushes can provide a landscape, beyond just their beauty and seasonal interest! Below are just a few:
Wildlife habitat:
Berry producing shrubs provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators, amphibians, small mammals, and reptiles. The berries are a favorite food for many birds, including wood thrushes, cedar waxwings, catbirds, and robins! They are essential for supporting bird populations in the cooler months when not much else is available to them for sustenance.
Highly Adaptable
Many berry shrubs are a good choice for a range of different landscapes due to their readily adaptable nature. Winterberry Hollies are specifically great because they can tolerate wet and dry soils!
Great For Décor
Beyond their use in the landscape, berry bushes are also extremely popular for use in various winter décor arrangements! The heavily berried branches can be clipped and used as accents around the home and in floral arrangements!
Four Favorite Berry Bushes To Plant In Fall
Winter Red Winterberry Holly
Winter Red Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red') is a standout in the landscape, known for its vibrant, bright red berries that last well into the winter, providing an eye-catching display when most plants have gone dormant.
The glossy green foliage in spring and summer offers a lush background, but it’s the abundant clusters of red berries that steal the show in late fall and winter, attracting birds and adding bold color to the landscape.
Ideal for use in mixed borders, foundation plantings, or as a striking hedge, Winter Red also thrives in rain gardens or wet areas where other shrubs may struggle. Pairing it with a male pollinator like 'Southern Gentleman' ensures a profusion of berries. Hardy and Native, Winter Red Winterberry Holly brings year-round interest and wildlife value to any garden.
Winter Gold Winterberry Holly
Winter Gold Winterberry Holly is a stunning deciduous shrub known for its vibrant golden-orange berries that provide striking winter interest when most other plants are dormant. Its glossy green foliage offers a lush display during the growing season, followed by a beautiful show of berries that persist into winter, attracting birds and adding seasonal color to the landscape.
Winter Gold is an excellent choice for use in mixed borders, foundation plantings, or naturalistic Gardens, and its ability to thrive in wet soils makes it perfect for rain gardens and low-lying areas. This native, low-maintenance shrub brings year-round beauty and ecological value, especially when paired with a male pollinator like 'Southern Gentleman' to ensure abundant berry production.
Profusion Beautyberry
Profusion Beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion') is a captivating deciduous shrub prized for its vibrant display of clusters of striking purple berries that appear in late summer and persist through fall, adding a pop of color to the landscape when many plants are fading. Its arching branches and glossy green leaves create a graceful form, while the metallic purple berries attract birds, providing wildlife value.
Profusion Beautyberry is ideal for use in mixed borders, woodland gardens, or as a specimen plant, where it brings seasonal interest and contrast. Hardy and low-maintenance, this shrub thrives in well-drained soils and adds a bold, colorful element to gardens, particularly when used in naturalized or informal plantings.
Sparkleberry Winterberry Holly
Sparkleberry Winterberry (Ilex verticillata 'Sparkleberry') is a native deciduous shrub known for its dazzling display of bright red berries that persist well into winter, offering vibrant seasonal color and attracting birds to the garden.
Its glossy green foliage provides beauty throughout spring and summer, but it’s the striking red berries that bring winter interest, standing out against the bare branches. This versatile shrub thrives in wet soils, making it perfect for rain gardens, low-lying areas, or naturalized landscapes, and is equally effective in mixed borders or as a decorative hedge.
Hardy and low-maintenance, Sparkleberry Winterberry brings year-round ecological value and beauty, especially when paired with a male pollinator like 'Southern Gentleman' to maximize berry production.
Shop Berries Galore and So Much More Online Today
No matter what your landscape vision is, we are confident that incorporating berry-producing shrubs will elevate the space to new heights! Benefit local wildlife, and grow a beautiful landscape with ease when you incorporate berry bushes into your landscape. Shop our wide range of berry shrubs online today!