As flowers fade and foliage drops, berries are a great way to add fall and winter interest. In this post, we'll share with you 6 of our favourite plants for fall and winter berries.
Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Wintergreen, or Gaultheria procumbens is far and away the most popular berry plant in the fall and winter. This low growing groundcover produces a dense mat of glossy dark green leaves that brighten with a redish hue in fall. White to pale pink flowers appear in June followed by red aromatic berries. Foliage is evergreen and retains its colour year round. Best when planted in part shade in acidic, moist, but well drained soils. Grows to 12 inches tall and 2-3ft wide. Hardy in zones 3-8.
Honey Maid Holly
Ilex x 'Honey Maid'
'Honey Maid' Holly features a uniquely patterned blue-green leaf with a creamy white leaf margin, complimented by red berries in winter. This evergreen shrub is great for the mixed border, as an irregular hedge or a foundation plant. Best in part to full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9. Grows into a pyramidal shape 8ft tall and 5ft wide.
Beauty Berry
Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion'
Beauty Berry is one of those shrubs that everyone ignores 9 months of the year. However, in the mid-fall they come running to the nursery with a little clipping from a neighbors bush asking what is this plant and do you have any? Beauty Berry is a deciduous shrub with mid-green leaves and summer blooming, small, purplish-pink flowers. New growth has an exciting bronze tinge. In late Fall, striking, long lasting metallic violet-blue purple berries appear along branches. Attracts birds too! Prune it in later winter to early spring to encourage new growth. Best when planted in full sun in moist, but well drained soils. Grows 6ft tall and equally as wide. Hardy in USDA zones 5-8.
Red Beauty Holly
Ilex x 'Rutzan'
'Red Beauty' is the second holly on our list. It features abundant crops of bright red berries combined with dense, deep green foliage to create an annual show. Make a beautiful container plant, a specimen or even an irregular hedge. Red Beauty maintains its dense form with little or no pruning. Evergreen. Best when planted in full to part sun in moist, but well drained soils. Hardy in USDA zones 6-10. We find that hollies to benefit from some winter protection otherwise they may defoliate somewhat. Grows in a dense conical shape from 7-10ft tall and 4-5ft wide.
Streibs Finding Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster dammeri 'Streibs Finding'
'Streibs Finding' is one of the lowest growing cotoneasters. Excellent, flat growing evergreen groundcover plant that features dense, tiny blue-green leaves, white flowers in spring, and masses of red berries in the fall. Use it on banks, berms and to cascade over walls. Fast growing to 6 inches tall and up to 8ft wide. Needs regular watering and is best planted in full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 6-8.
Lingon Berry
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
The Scandinavians love this one, and so should you! Also known as the Lingonberry, this lovel little groundcover features green leaves that turn bronze in the winter. In summer, pendant, bell-shaped pink flowers decorate the plant. Blooms are followed by edible red berries in the fall and winter. Yes, these are the same berries that flavour the drinks at Ikea :)
Lingonberry plants grow to 1ft in height and 3-4ft across. It's an excellent selection for mass planting. Prefers full sun to part shade in moist, but well drained soils. Extremely hardy to Zone 3. For best results, water well until established.
If you have any other questions about berry plants for your garden, call or visit us in person. As always, check in advance to confirm availability. Our plant selection is always changing depending on the season and availability. 604.882.1201