by Lydia Holley December 14, 2020
Who can resist the charm of red berries against a background of green, especially during the holiday season? It is as if nature wants to help decorate our homes and wreaths. The beauty of berries start in the fall, when the beautyberry bushes display their purple clusters. You have to hurry to enjoy beautyberry’s colorful drupes, though, because they are a favorite food for birds. Although the purple clusters look as beautiful as any jewel, you may prefer a white-berried cultivar.
Ashe junipers display blue fruit. Blue is not commonly found in gardens, so its color is usually treasured by gardeners. The blue fruit is also prized by birds.
Cotoneasters sport tiny berries. Bees often visit these plants while they are in flower. Although the red berries are small, they are usually numerous enough to be noticed from afar. If cotoneasters are not showy enough for you, consider pyracantha.
Most people think of hollies when they imagine evergreen branches with red berries to decorate with. Native to East Texas, American holly usually has an abundant display of berries and is also commonly known as Christmas holly. Be aware of its mature size, however, as it can grow to 25 ft tall or more.
If you do not have room for an American holly, there are numerous types of hollies to consider, and many produce some kind of berry. Still, you will want to keep the mature size in mind before planting. Consider adding yaupon hollies, blue hollies, dwarf burford hollies, Nellie R. Stevens hollies, inkberries, winterberries, or possomhaws. A holly added to your landscape should supply an abundance of stems to grace your mantle or add to wreaths.
Even if you do not decorate with fresh greenery, you may want to add some plants which put on a nice show of berries to your landscape. The bright color will add cheer in the winter months and the berries will attract another type of interest in the form of birds coming to eat the fruit.
For more information, call 903-675-6130, email [email protected].
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HCmastergardener.