Sorbaronia-Liquorice-berries

Autumn Berries

If you feel your garden is lacking colour or interest in the autumn, why not consider introducing plants that grow brightly coloured berries? We have a wide selection of trees and shrubs that, in addition to their spring blooms, produce bunches of berries as summer gives way to autumn, providing your garden something a bit extra. There is also the more unusual Sorbaronia ‘Liquorice’ (see the image above) with its dark purple colour.

Berries, as well as being beautiful, are a valuable and natural food source for visiting birds when food is otherwise scarce in a cold winter. Berry colours include black, yellow, red, white and orange, so you are sure to find something among our plants to fill that void in the autumn.

 

We have trees such as Rowan (Sorbus cashmiriana) that grows white berries which go well against dark backgrounds, while the native Sorbus aucuparia grows red berries that are striking against a blue sky. These fruits will attract blackcaps, finches, thrushes and waxwings.

Crab apple trees (Malus Sylvestris) are also excellent because in addition to growing miniature apples of various colours that attract birds, it also brings you its spectacular spring blossom.

 

Or if you don’t have room for a tree, we can offer a wide range of berry producing shrubs. Here is a brief list as well as the bird species they will bring into your garden:

  • Cotoneaster horizontalis, with its bright red berries are very attractive to robins, sparrows and bullfinches.
  • Berberis ‘Golden Torch’ will attract thrushes and blackbirds.
  • Hollies such as Ilex argentea marginata, in addition to its bright variegated foliage, will bring in greenfinches and waxwings.
  • The sticky red fruits of Honeysuckles (Lonicera periclymenum) will entice robins, song thrushes and blackbirds.
  • Hawthorn haws (Crataegus sp.) are a favourite of blackbirds and waxwings.

 

In addition, Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ bears vivid purple berries that almost look unreal, while Viburnum davidii grows blue berries on bright red stems.

Viburnum-davidii
Viburnum davidii
Malus-Gorgeous-berries
Malus Gorgeous
Sorbus-cashmiriana-berries
Sorbus cashmiriana
Callicarpa-profusion-berries
Callicarpa 'Profusion'
Roger Eavis
roger@greenshutters.co.uk