Berries
By: Garden Gate staff
| 1 of 4
Beautyberry Callicarpa dichotoma
Beautyberry’s colorful fruit hangs on well into winter unless a flock of hungry birds comes by. Since clusters are produced on new growth, cut away the dead wood on this fast grower each spring.
Type Shrub
Blooms Pink in midsummer; berries start green in early fall before turning pink then glossy purple
Light Full sun to part shade
Soil Fertile, well-drained
Size 4 to 10 ft. tall, 4 to 8 ft. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
| 2 of 4
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens
Usually you’d need to make room for two bittersweet vines — a male plant to fertilize the female plant that will produce the berries. But the Autumn Revolution series is self-fertile.
All bittersweet vines need a substantial structure to twine onto because they can get large and heavy. And always make sure you’re planting American bittersweet, not the invasive Oriental species.
Type Vine
Blooms Late spring into early summer, not showy; bright orange berries in fall
Light Full sun to part shade
Soil Well-drained, average
Size 15 to 20 ft. tall, 3 to 6 ft. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
| 3 of 4
Rugosa rose Rosa rugosa
It’s not unusual to find a few of rugosa rose’s fragrant blossoms late in the season, at the same time its fruit is ripening. Known as “hips”, berries can be small on some cultivars or as large as an inch across on others.
Type Shrub
Blooms Red, pink or white flowers summer through fall; red or orange berries in fall
Light Full sun to part shade
Soil Moist, well-drained
Size 4 to 6 ft. tall and wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
| 4 of 4
Black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa
Black chokeberry suckers to form colonies that are excellent bird and wildlife habitat. However, birds don’t eat the extremely tart berries until there are no other choices, which means the fruit could last until spring.
Type Shrub
Blooms Showy white in spring; shiny black berries in fall
Light Full sun to part shade
Soil Average, well-drained
Size 3 to 6 ft. tall and wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
