Great Shrubs with Berries for Winter Interest in the Northern and Central Midwest Region

Regional Gardening, Best Shrubs, Midwest Gardening

Midwest garden, Best shrubs, Midwest shrubs, Great shrubs, flowering shrubs, Shrubs with berries, evergreen shrubs, Best shrubs

Enjoy a burst of color in your winter garden with one of these attractive shrubs or small trees. They make a delightful addition to the landscape with their colorful berry-laden branches, transforming drab spots into beautiful focal points. Like precious jewels, their nutritious berries sparkle in the winter landscape and attract wild birds. They are also fun to pick for indoor arrangements or Christmas decor.

Perfect for Midwestern gardens, the plants below will not only provide lovely blooms, but also attractive berries, showy fall color, and food for the birds. As you will note, some of them have also received the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society!

Guide Information

Hardiness	3 - 6
Plant Type	Shrubs
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height
Spread
Maintenance	Low, Average
Soil Type	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics	Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Salt, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Clay Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts	Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas	Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs

Great Shrubs with Berries for the Northern & Central Midwest Region

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ (Red Chokeberry)

Noted 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.

Hardiness	4 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	6' - 10' (180cm - 3m)
Spread	3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm)

Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry)

Aronia melanocarpa, or Black Chokeberry, is a spreading deciduous shrub prized for its black berries and purple-red foliage. Fragrant, whitish-pink flowers in spring yield glossy black berries by late summer, lasting into winter. The elliptic leaves transition from bright green to crimson to apricot in fall, adding beauty to shady spots.

Hardiness	3 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)
Spread	3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)

Berberis koreana (Korean Barberry)

With exceptional hardiness, Berberis koreana (Korean Barberry) is a captivating plant that offers year-round appeal. In mid-spring, this small semi-evergreen shrub showcases beautiful hanging clusters of golden-yellow flowers. These blooms are followed by an abundance of bright red berries that often persist through winter. The foliage transitions from medium green in summer to stunning maroon and deep purple hues in the fall, adding to its allure.

Hardiness	3 - 7
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm)
Spread	4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm)

Callicarpa japonica (Japanese Beautyberry)

Callicarpa japonica (Japanese Beautyberry) is a prized deciduous shrub known for its vibrant berries that adorn the plant in the fall. With its slender and upright branches, it adds elegance to the landscape. Clusters of pink flowers in early summer give way to lustrous violet to purple fruits that stand out against the medium green foliage, which turns yellow with a touch of purple in the fall.

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height	4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm)
Spread	4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm)

Cornus alba (Tatarian Dogwood)

Noted for its colorful stems and twigs in winter, Cornus alba (Tatarian Dogwood) is a medium-sized ornamental shrub with great appeal. Rapidly growing, and adaptable to wet soils or dry soils, it features spectacular decorative features: stunning fall color, attractive berries, showy red stems, and sometimes a lovely variegated summer foliage. A spectacular addition in the garden for most seasons, Tatarian Dogwood certainly adds a WOW! to a winter landscape.

Hardiness	2 - 7
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)
Spread	8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)

Cornus sericea (Red Osier Dogwood)

Transforming the winter landscape with its vibrant presence, Cornus sericea (Red Osier Dogwood) is a medium-sized shrub that captivates with its stunning features. Adaptable to various soils, it showcases eye-catching fall colors, attractive berries, and striking red or golden stems. With its rapid growth and all-season appeal, this remarkable shrub adds a touch of brilliance to the snowy surroundings.

Hardiness	3 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	6' - 9' (180cm - 270cm)
Spread	8' - 12' (240cm - 3.7m)

Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’ (Winterberry)

Hailing from Eastern North America’s swamps, Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’ (Winterberry) is a compact shrub with year-round appeal. This deciduous holly showcases petite greenish-white blooms in late spring, followed by a bounty of vibrant red berries that adorn the landscape throughout fall and winter. Its glossy, dark green leaves complete its attractive package.

Hardiness	3 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm)
Spread	3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm)

Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’ (Winterberry)

Admired for its prolific fruiting, Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’ is a slow-growing, upright-rounded shrub. This deciduous winterberry holly produces abundant greenish-white flowers in late spring, followed by glossy golden-peachy berries that persist throughout winter. The dark green leaves transform to a golden-bronze shade in fall. This female cultivar requires a male pollinator for fruit production.

Hardiness	3 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	5' - 8' (150cm - 240cm)
Spread	5' - 8' (150cm - 240cm)

Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’ (Winterberry)

Valued 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.

Hardiness	3 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm)
Spread	6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm)

Ilex x meserveae ‘Blue Princess’ (Blue Holly)

A beloved choice among female hybrid hollies, Ilex x meserveae ‘Blue Princess’ is a spreading, evergreen shrub that captivates year-round. It boasts clusters of small white flowers in spring, followed by an abundance of striking bright red berries in fall. With its dark purple stems and glossy, dark blue-green, spiny-toothed leaves, it adds beauty and interest to the winter landscape.

Hardiness	4 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m)
Spread	8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)

Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape Holly)

Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape Holly) is a captivating evergreen shrub that adds color and interest to shaded gardens. Its cheerful yellow flowers in spring attract pollinators, followed by clusters of edible dark blue-purple berries in late summer. The lustrous holly-like leaves emerge bronze-red, mature to glossy dark green, and turn deep burgundy in fall. This small ornamental shrub is the State Flower of Oregon.

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Partial Sun, Shade
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Late), Fall, Winter
Height	3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)
Spread	2' - 5' (60cm - 150cm)

Symphoricarpos albus (Common Snowberry)

With its waxy, pure white berries, Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry) is a resilient and adaptable deciduous shrub. In early summer, it produces clusters of small, bell-shaped white to pink flowers that attract butterflies and pollinators. These flowers give way to abundant snow-white berries that persist throughout winter, adding visual interest to the landscape.

Hardiness	3 - 7
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Seasons	Summer (Early, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)
Spread	3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)

Symphoricarpos x chenaultii ‘Hancock’ (Snowberry)

Noted for its excellent ability to cover ground and smother weeds, Symphoricarpos x chenaultii ‘Hancock’ (Snowberry) is a low, spreading, deciduous shrub with arching, rooting branches that is amazingly adaptable and undemanding. In late summer, a profusion of small, bell-shaped, pink flowers are borne at the tips of the branches. Inconspicuous, they are of great interest to butterflies, bees, and pollinators. The flowers are followed by abundant and attractive clusters of white fruits speckled with rosy red that persist well into winter. Birds do enjoy them in the winter months. The dense foliage of small, ovate bluish green leaves remains attractive from spring to frost.

Hardiness	5 - 7
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Summer (Late), Fall, Winter
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	5' - 10' (150cm - 3m)

Viburnum opulus (European Cranberrybush)

Viburnum opulus (European Cranberrybush) is highly valued for its colorful foliage, attractive fruits, and vibrant fall display. In late spring, this deciduous shrub blooms with beautiful, lace-like white flowers arranged in flat clusters. The blooms transform into pendulous clusters of translucent, bright red berries that persist into mid-fall. The foliage, resembling maple leaves, turns striking shades of yellow-red or reddish-purple in autumn.

Hardiness	3 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)
Spread	10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m)

Viburnum trilobum Redwing™ (American Cranberrybush)

Viburnum trilobum Redwing (American Cranberrybush) offers year-round appeal in the garden. In spring, this deciduous shrub showcases showy white flowers in flat cymes, held above red-blushed leaves. In late summer, drooping clusters of bright red berries appear, persisting through early winter. The three-lobed, dark green foliage turns a brilliant red in fall.

Hardiness	2 - 7
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)
Spread	6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm)

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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.