Berry Producing Shrubs and Vines
Berry Producing Shrubs and Vines
No matter where you plant a shrub, in a perennial garden, as an accent plant for the lawn, in a hedge along the road, or as a part of barricade against trespassing dogs, choosing a shrub that produces berries give you a living bird feeder as well.
A garden full of berries is irresistible to birds, especially during fall migration and in winter, when high energy food is vital.
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(Viburnum trilobum) |
Robins, thrushes, bluebirds, and many others | Rounded shrub to 12' tall, with three lobed leaves. Flat topped clusters of white flowers in late spring; shiny red fruits in early fall. | Grow in well drained, moist soil, in sun to partial shade; irrigate during droughts. Zones 2 to 8 (grows best in cool summer areas) | Looks best planted as a hedge or a privacy screen. |
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(Viburnum dentatum) |
A very wide range of berating birds | Multistemmed shrub 8' to 15' tall expand slowly from base to form a large clump. Cluster of small creamy flowers in early summer; oval blue black fruits in fall. | Grow in well drained soil, in sun to partial shade. Zones 2 to 8 | Buy in the fall, when you can see the fall color; only some plants turn rich red. |
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(Berberis spp.) |
Catbirds, mockingbirds, and many others | Thorny, very dense, rounded shrubs varying in size from 18" tall - Crimson Pigmy- to 6' tall - Red Chief. Yellow flowers followed by bright red or orange berries | Grow this adaptable drought tolerant shrub in well drained soil in full sun-light. Zones 4 to 8 | Reddish purple-leaved cultivators like Crimson Velvet or Helmond Pilla add color to the garden. Try grouping barberries and maiden grasses. |
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(Ribes nigrum) |
Robins, mockingbirds, jays, and many others | Twiggy shrub to 6' tall, with lobed leaves. Clusters of greenish white flowers followed by edible black fruits. | Grow in full sun to light shade, in well drained soil. Zones 4 to 8 | Sale of currants is restricted in some states because they host white pine blister rust disease. Ask your extension agent about restrictions before planting. Use currants in a mixed hedge for cover, nesting, and food. |
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(Sambucus spp.) |
A very wide range of berry eating birds | 6' to 10' multistemmed shrubs with white flowers and abundant clusters of tiny berries | Grow in well drained soil, in sun to part shade. Zones 4 to 8 | Try S. candaensis, the common garden variety with purple black fruits, or grow American red elderberry (S. pubens), Pacific Coast red elderberry (S. Callicarpa), or European red elderberry (S. racemosa) |
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(Amelanchier spp.) |
Waxwings, bluebirds, and many others | Shrubs or small trees with white flowers in early spring, followed by fruits that turn red, then blue black or purple. Leaves turn yellow to deep red in fall. | Grow in well drained, moist, acidic soil, in sun to shade. Zones 4 to 9 (some species are hardy to Zone 2) | Autumn Brilliance and Autumn Sunset are graceful small trees; Prince William is shrubby; Cumulus grows 20' to 30' tall. A canadensis is a suckering shrub that is a great choice for a wild garden. |
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(Fragaria spp. and hybrids) |
Robins, catbirds, thrashers, and many others | Ground covers with clumps of three lobed leaves. White or pink flowers in spring followed by delectable red berries. | Grow in full sun in well drained soil rich in organic matter. Zones 4 to 8 | Choose cultivators that you like, or try the tiny, sweet clusters of wild strawberry (F. virginiana). Western beach strawberry (F. chioensis) is hardy to Zone 7 and has beautiful, glossy leaves. Plant some strawberries around shrubs, where bird can forage for them safely |
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