Attractive Deciduous Shrubs and Trees with Red Fruits and Berries
Fall Garden, Winter Garden, Late Season Garden
Red berries look cheerful on a winter day, sparkling in the sun or highlighted with a dusting of snow. Some trees and shrubs display beautiful fruits in late summer or fall, which persist into winter and attract hungry birds. In a glorious display of crimson, scarlet, or vermilion, their attractive berries adorn their branches in eye-catching bouquets, which gleam like jewels in the soft sunlight. They make a terrific addition to any outdoor and indoor setting.
Here is a list of deciduous shrubs and trees that will help you create beautiful fall-to-winter scenes and let you enjoy the end of the season in a beautiful new way. All these plants are easy to grow, versatile, and of great appeal in other seasons too, with their stunning fall color, attractive flowers, or lush summer foliage.
Favorite Deciduous Shrubs and Trees with Red Fruits and Berries in Fall and Winter
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My CollectionNoted for its attractive glossy red berries and excellent red fall foliage color, Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima' (Red Chokeberry) is a deciduous shrub adding multi-season beauty to the garden. In spring, a profusion of white to light pink flower clusters appear along the branches. They are followed in late summer by abundant clusters of edible red berries that persist throughout fall and well into winter.
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My CollectionExtremely hardy, Berberis koreana (Korean Barberry) is a fabulous addition to the landscape thanks to its four seasons of interest. In mid-spring, this small, multi-stemmed, semi-evergreen shrub produces striking pendulous clusters of golden-yellow flowers. They are followed by an abundance of egg-shaped, bright red berries, which often persist well into winter. The summer foliage of elliptical, medium green leaves, turns dramatic maroon to deep purple shades in the fall.
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My CollectionOne of the most popular barberries, award-winning 'Atropurpurea Nana' is a charming, deciduous dwarf shrub with eye-catching, reddish to purplish, small, obovate leaves which turn into brilliant red shades in the fall. Tiny, scented, pale yellow flowers appear in mid-late spring, followed by an abundant crop of bright red berries in the fall. Attractive to birds, they often remain on the spiny stems after the leaves have fallen.
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My CollectionBerberis thunbergii 'Golden Rocket' (Japanese Barberry) is a compact, upright, deciduous shrub with a bright and fresh chartreuse foliage which provides a striking contrast to the coral colored stems. The leaf coloring continues throughout the summer. Tiny, scented, pale yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by an abundant crop of bright crimson-red berries in the fall. Perfect for brightening borders or containers.
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My CollectionIncredibly beautiful, award-winning Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Admiration' (Japanese Barberry) is a compact, dwarf, deciduous shrub with a showy foliage of glowing coral-red leaves adorned with thin golden-yellow margins. The striking coloring remains throughout the summer and deepens in fall. 'Admiration' is perfect for brightening borders or containers and ideal for small gardens.
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My CollectionBerberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea (Purple Japanese Barberry) is always a spectacular addition to the landscape where it brings a strong color accent from spring to fall. This dense, arching, deciduous shrub features broadly oval, reddish-purple leaves which turn into brilliant red or red-orange shades in the fall. Tiny, scented, pale yellow flowers appear in mid-late spring, followed by an abundant crop of bright red berries in the fall.
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My CollectionNoted for its handsome foliage and large, lustrous red fruit, Cotoneaster adpressus (Creeping Cotoneaster) is a dense, prostrate, deciduous shrub with stiff branches studded with small, rounded, wavy-edge, dark green leaves. The foliage turns reddish purple in fall. Small white flowers tinged with pink are produced in late spring. They are followed by brilliant berries which ripen to bright red in late summer to fall, and persist into winter.
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My CollectionSlow-growing, Cotoneaster horizontalis (Rock Cotoneaster) is a spreading, deciduous shrub with flat and stiff, regularly-branched sprays in a strict herring-bone pattern. The branches are studded with small, glossy leaves that turn orange and red in fall. Small, 5-petaled, pink-tinged white flowers are produced in late spring. Attractive to bees, they are followed by brilliant scarlet berries which ripen in late summer to fall and provide one of the most cheering sights in the garden.
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My CollectionNoted for its fluorescent fall foliage and very ornamental berries, Euonymus alatus (Burning Bush) is a large, spreading, deciduous shrub of great popularity. In late spring to early summer, a profusion of tiny, non-showy, greenish flowers appear before being replaced by purplish-red fruits that mature during the fall.
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My CollectionNoted for its spectacular fall foliage and very ornamental berries, Euonymus europaeus 'Red Cascade' (Spindle) is a large, vigorous, deciduous shrub that is invaluable in the fall and winter garden. Its foliage of scalloped, oval, dark green leaves turns to a deep, lustrous red in fall, making the whole plant glow with color. In late spring to early summer, a profusion of tiny greenish flowers appear before being replaced by masses of bright rose-pink fruits that mature during the fall.
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My CollectionNoted for its most dramatic foliage and very ornamental berries, Euonymus planipes (Spindle Tree) is a large, deciduous shrub that is invaluable in the fall and winter garden. Its foliage of huge, ovate, mid-green leaves turns to vibrant crimson-to-ruby red in early fall, making the whole plant glow with color. In late spring, a profusion of tiny, star-shaped, greenish flowers appear before being replaced by masses of large, lobed, crimson-pink fruits that mature during the fall.
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My CollectionNative to the swampy areas of Eastern North America, Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite' (Winterberry) is a dwarf shrub with excellent year-round interest. This deciduous holly produces abundant small greenish-white flowers in late spring or early summer that are followed by a profusion of bright red berries in fall and winter. Extremely attractive, they enliven the winter landscape and often persist into early spring unless eaten by birds. The foliage consists of elliptic, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves
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My CollectionValued for its heavy fruit set and persistence, Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red' is widely regarded as one of the best winterberries. Slow-growing, this multi-stemmed, deciduous winterberry holly features a shapely oval form and produces abundant small greenish-white flowers in late spring or early summer. They are followed by a profusion of magnificent cherry red berries from fall through winter. Extremely attractive, they enliven the winter landscape and often persist into early spring unless eaten by birds.
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My CollectionNoted for its heavy crop of red berries, Ilex verticillata Berry Heavy® (Winterberry) is a useful shrub with excellent year-round interest. This deciduous holly produces abundant small greenish-white flowers in late spring that are followed by a profusion of bright red berries in fall and winter. Extremely attractive, they enliven the winter landscape and often persist into early spring unless eaten by birds. The foliage consists of elliptic, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves.
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My CollectionPerfect for small spaces, Ilex verticillata Berry Poppins® (Winterberry) is a dwarf shrub with excellent year-round interest. This deciduous holly produces abundant small greenish-white flowers in late spring or early summer that are followed by a profusion of bright red berries in fall and winter. Extremely attractive, they enliven the winter landscape and often persist into early spring unless eaten by birds. The foliage consists of elliptic, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves.
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My CollectionPerfect for small spaces, Ilex verticillata Little Goblin® Red (Winterberry) is a dwarf shrub with excellent year-round interest. This deciduous holly produces abundant small greenish-white flowers in late spring that are followed by a profusion of bright, extra-large red berries in fall and winter. Particularly attractive, they enliven the winter landscape and often persist into early spring unless eaten by birds. The foliage consists of elliptic, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves.
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My CollectionAttractive and productive, Malus x robusta 'Red Sentinel' (Crabapple) is a small deciduous tree with a long season of interest. Opening from dark pink buds, a profusion of fragrant, single, white blossoms appear in late spring, just as the light green foliage is unfolding. They are followed by particularly abundant clusters of cherry-like, glossy, deep red fruits which persist well into winter. The fruits can be harvested to make delicious crabapple jelly.
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My CollectionAward-winning Rhus Tiphina Tiger Eyes® is a real standout! Changing with every season, the cut-leaf foliage of this deciduous, suckering shrub emerges chartreuse in spring, matures to bright yellow in the summer, and eventually acquires striking orange and scarlet tones in fall. The leaves contrast extremely well with the purplish branches and stems. Cone-shaped panicles of green-yellow flowers bloom in early summer, followed on female plants by dark red fruit in fall.
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My CollectionRosa moyesii, commonly known as Mandarin Rose or Moyes Rose, is a healthy and robust Rose that can be relied on to provide interest and color. Parent to many shrub roses, this is a vigorous, deciduous shrub with an attractive spreading arching habit. It is covered with a plentiful array of remarkable, wine-red flowers with prominent yellow central stamens in late spring. Flowering is so profuse that the attractive blossoms nearly cover the lustrous dark green fern-like foliage. As an extra bonus, these are followed in fall by crops of striking bottle-shaped rose-hips, adding interest and color to the winter garden.
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My CollectionWell-known for its incredible hardiness and legendary disease resistance, Rosa rugosa is a vigorous, tough, prickly, sprawling, suckering shrub that is amazingly tolerant of dry sandy soils, salt spray, and wind. It is covered with a plentiful array of remarkably fragrant, single, small pink flowers with yellow central stamens from early summer through the end of the growing season. Flowering is so profuse that the attractive blossoms nearly cover the handsome, glossy, wrinkled, heavily veined, rich green foliage. As an extra bonus, these are followed by large, edible fruits that are as pretty as the flowers themselves.
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My CollectionAn ideal specimen tree for small gardens, Sorbus alnifolia (Korean Mountain Ash) is a small, densely-branched, deciduous tree with a long season of interest. It grows quickly and its upright branches form a dense, rounded canopy, which casts dense shade below. The elegant foliage of glossy, ovate, dark green leaves turns gold and orange in the fall, before falling to the ground, revealing the dark or pale gray, finely-striped bark. In late spring, a profusion of tiny white flowers held in flat-topped clusters are produced. They are quickly followed by abundant clusters of showy, orange to red fruits in fall.
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My CollectionNoted for its excellent winter hardiness, Viburnum dilatatum Cardinal Candy® (Linden Viburnum) is a compact deciduous shrub of upright to rounded habit with a long season of interest. In late spring to early summer, the shrub is covered with abundant clusters of fragrant, lacy, creamy white flowers. They are followed by showy, pendulous clusters of bright red berries in fall, which persist through winter to the delight of hungry birds. In the fall, the handsome foliage of broad-ovate, wrinkled, dark green leaves, turns shades of bronze and burgundy-red.
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My CollectionViburnum opulus (European Cranberrybush) is prized for its spring foliage color, healthy summer foliage, vibrant fall color, and showy fruits. In late spring, this multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub produces showy, lacy, white flowers in flat clusters. In late summer, the attractive blooms give way to pendulous clusters of ornamental fleshy, translucent, bright red berries that persist through mid-fall. By winter, they shrivel and resemble dried red raisins. In the fall, the handsome foliage of relatively large, maple-like, dark green leaves, turns occasionally bright yellow-red or rich reddish purple.
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My CollectionWith four seasons of interest, Viburnum trilobum 'Redwing' (American Cranberrybush) is a lovely addition to the landscape. In spring, this densely branched, deciduous shrub produces showy, lacy, white flowers in flat cymes of tiny fertile florets surrounded by an outer ring of larger sterile florets. They are elegantly held above the red-blushed leaves. In late summer, the attractive blooms give way to drooping clusters of ornamental bright red berries that persist from fall through early winter. In the fall, the handsome foliage of three-lobed, maple-like, dark green leaves, turns a brilliant red.
You may want to review these guides to embellish your winter garden
Winters may be long and cold, but your garden can allay that dreariness and be transformed into a place of natural beauty with visually arresting textures or colors. Some trees and shrubs display fiery red berries in late summer or fall, which persist into winter. In a glorious display of crimson, scarlet, or vermilion, their branches are studded with jeweled clusters of berries. Every garden should contain an ornamental shrub or tree with hanging clusters of berries. Pleasing to the eyes, the fruits of some species are also a great source of food for the birds.
When embroidered with their brilliant berries, some shrubs and trees produce a more colorful display in the late season garden, than in spring and summer with their own flowers. Loaded with fruit for weeks, they create a spectacular show that pleases the eye, and the birds too. Aside from the classic red berries or the vibrant purple ones, some bushes and trees display glowing orange fruits, when color is desperately needed in the garden.
Grabbing our attention with the unusual color of their berries, some trees and shrubs create a spectacular show of intense purple fruits in late summer or fall, when few other flowering shrubs offer color. In a terrific display of violet or amethyst, their attractive berries adorn their branches and become the highlight of the winter landscape.
As some plants owe their charm to spectacular flowers, handsome leaves or colorful fruits, others are valued for their quiet beauty, peeping out here and there in the fall and winter garden. White-berried plants fall into this last category. Adding ornamental interest to the late season garden, most will remain into the winter, providing gardeners, birds and wildlife with holiday cheer.
Winters may be long and cold, but your garden can allay that dreariness and be transformed into a place of natural beauty with visually arresting textures, colors, fragrances, and flowers. To create such a beautiful winter scene, you need to make sure you select the right plants.
While the flowerheads of late-season grasses are stunning in the fall, they continue to sparkle in winter. When frost catches their plumes and spikes and the sun glints through them, you will get great pleasure.
Most people celebrate daffodils as the harbingers of spring, without being aware that many other plants flower much earlier
Bark becomes an important ornamental element in winter when the shedding of leaves exposes trunks and branches and reveals its glory.
Here is a list of shrubs and trees that will help you create beautiful winter scenes and let you enjoy the winter season in a beautiful new way. All these plants are cold-hardy, versatile, fast-growing, and of great appeal in other seasons too
Guide Information
Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
---|---|
Plant Family | Berberis - Barberries, Cotoneaster, Euonymus, Ilex - Hollies |
Season of Interest |
Fall Winter |
Maintenance | Low |
Characteristics | Fruit & Berries |
damann / 123RF Stock Photo
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Guide Information
Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
---|---|
Plant Family | Berberis - Barberries, Cotoneaster, Euonymus, Ilex - Hollies |
Season of Interest |
Fall Winter |
Maintenance | Low |
Characteristics | Fruit & Berries |
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