Sorbus aucuparia
BERRIED PLANTS By Howard Drury
INTRODUCTION
The following list contains plants that bear many kinds of fruits, not just true berries as in the case of Cotoneaster. Some are burrs, others pods or cones and some of these fruits are edible i.e. Japanese Quinces, Malus 'Golden Hornet' and M. 'John Downie' which make excellent jellies. Many of the fruits appear in summer and early autumn following the flowering of the plant, which may not be significant on its own. Berries in their conspicuous colours of red, orange, white or black are particularly welcome at the dull end of the season. Some fruits last longer than others. The berries of the Snowberry, Holly and Skimmia usually last throughout the winter. However, Cotoneaster and Pyracantha berries are often stripped by the birds as they mature in colour throughout autumn. Before buying a berried plant, it is important to ascertain whether it is self‑fertilizing or will require a pollinator to flower and fruit. Many plants are self‑fertilizing, but others have male and female flowers on separate plants that must be grown in reasonable proximity for fertilisation and subsequent fruit formation. These include Hollies, Skimmias, Sea Buckthorn and Aucubas. Other plants may exhibit flowers with certain parts missing on a particular plant, and in this instance groups of plants should be grown together to ensure berry production. A good example of this is Pernettya.
When planting berried subjects, it is important to consider where the specimen will be viewed from in order to see the visual contrast between fruit and foliage. For instance, it would be of little use planting a shrub at the back of a border where the beauty of the berries would be hidden by other plants. It is also beneficial to place berried trees in a position so that the fruits can be viewed from the ground. The planting of trees and shrubs is covered in other Fact Sheets (see Fact Sheets 97 and 155) and this list is by no means exhaustive and only contains those with outstanding berried features. There are many others which bear fruit but are less visual in effect ‑ the Passion Flower for example will often bear fruits in a good year when grown outside, and therefore subjects such as these are not included.
AUCUBAS ‑ evergreen shade loving shrubs, forming rounded bushes 2‑3m high for any soil. Good in industrial areas, often known as spotted laurel. Female plants bear deep red berries, male flower bearing plants must be present to ensure females carry berries.
Males Females
A. japonica 'Crassifolia' A. japonica 'Fructo alba'
A. japonica 'Crotoninfolia' A. japonica 'Gold Dust'
A. japonica 'dentata' A. japonica 'Hillieri'
A. japonica 'Grandid' A. japonica 'Longifolia'
A. japonica 'Lance Leaf' A. japonica 'Maculata'
A. japonica 'Speckles' A. japonica 'Variegata'
BERBERIS ‑ easy to grow, thriving in sun or shade and any soil providing it is not waterlogged. They vary in size from dwarf to large shrubs, flowers are usually yellow or orange in spring. Some are evergreen, others deciduous. The following are outstanding. Most forms berry profusely.
B. darwinii - ideal for hedging, orange flowers in May, purplish berries.
B. gagnepainii ‑ small shrub of dense erect habit. Black berries with blue bloom. Makes an impenetrable hedge.
B. julianae ‑ dense spiny evergreen up to 3m. Yellow flowers and black berries. Good screen or hedging plant.
B. x stenophylla ‑ a dense evergreen, medium-sized shrub. Arching branches, yellow flowers and black berries.
B. thunbergii - showy reddish yellow flower, bright red berries. Outstanding autumn colour various named forms available, often with reddish or purple foliage.
B. wilsoniae ‑ small shrub, good red autumn colour. Coral red berries.
CALLICARPA ‑ a small family of neat shrubs with good autumn colour and purple lilac fruits when planted in groups.
C. bodinieri ‑ medium-sized shrub, pink flowers in summer followed by purple berries.
CHAENOMELES ‑ better known as Cydonia or commonly as "Japonica", quinces are easy to grow in any soil or on a wall if shaded. The flowers in spring may be red, orange or white.
C. japonica ‑ small shrub with orange flowers
C. speciosa ‑ the well known early flowering quince, branching shrub of medium size. Many named forms available.
C. x superba ‑ small to medium shrub of vigorous habit. Named forms available. Outstanding are 'Crimson', 'Gold', 'Knap Hill Scarlet' and 'Rowalane'.
CLERODENDRUM trichotomum ‑ a strong growing shrub with white flowers in August and September, followed by bright blue berries.
COLUTEA arborescens "Bladder Sennas" ‑ have typical yellow pea like flowers during summer and large inflated seed pods. Prune hard in March if getting out of hand.
CORNUS ‑ the dogwoods range in height from a few inches to trees. Easy on most soils and sites.
C. alba - the red stemmed dogwood for wet or dry soils, named forms available. Fruits, white or blue tinged.
C. canadensis ‑ only 15cm high. White flowers give way to vivid red berries; good on sandy peats.
C. controversa ‑ a tree like specimen with creamy white flowers and black berries.
C. kousa ‑ large elegant shrub, white bracts to flowers.
C. mas ‑ "Cornelian Cherry", large shrub or small tree, yellow flowers on large twigs in February. Red, edible berries.
COTONEASTER ‑ contains some of the most invaluable shrubs, from ground creepers up to 3m high. The majority are deciduous, many are evergreen, especially in milder winters. Most give brilliant autumn foliage in addition to berries. Flowers are white or tinged pink and often cover the branches in June. For any site or soil, the following are outstanding.
C. dammeri ‑ quite prostrate, ideal for covering banks etc. Sealing wax red berries.
C. 'Firebird'‑ medium to large shrub with large orange red berries in clusters.
C. franchetii ‑ semi‑evergreen, medium sized shrub with orange scarlet fruits.
C. frigidus ‑ fast-growing large shrub or small tree, loaded in winter with clusters of crimson fruits.
C. horizontalis low growing shrub, herring‑bone branch arrangement, good for walls, good colour.
C. 'Hybridus Pendulous' ‑ medium sized evergreen with pendulous branches brilliant red fruits in bunches during winter.
C. 'Rothschildianus' ‑ a large spreading shrub, large clusters of yellow fruits.
C. salicifolius ‑ a tall, invaluable evergreen with heavy crops of bright red berries.
C. simonsii ‑ a semi‑evergreen suited to hedges and screens. Large scarlet fruits.
C. skogholm ‑ dwarf evergreen for ground cover with large coral red berries.
C. x watereri ‑ large semi‑evergreen with orange/red berries named forms available.
DAPHNE ‑ a family of small, usually fragrant shrubs for the rock garden. Require moist, rich, well drained soils. Most have berries.
D. mezereum ‑ purple red flowers in March are followed by poisonous scarlet fruits.
EUONYMUS ‑ a group of deciduous and evergreen shrubs for any soil. Best planted in groups to ensure cross-pollination, as some plants produce incomplete flowers.
E. europaeus "Spindle" ‑ bush or small tree producing an abundance of red fruits.
E. fortunei ‑ a hardy trailing evergreen for sun or shade. Greenish flowers followed by pinkish capsules.
E. grandiflorus ‑ large erect evergreen shrub. Yellow flowers followed by yellow fruits with red seeds.
E. latifolius ‑ similar to the "Spindle" tree but with larger fruits and better autumn colour.
E. oxyphyllus ‑slow growing medium size shrub with good autumn colour and carmine seed capsules.
E. sachalinensis ‑ similar to latifolius but with larger fruits.
GARRYA ‑ evergreens with male and female flowers on separate plants. Good in polluted and maritime situations, especially north and east walls. Any type of well drained soil, but best protected in the colder areas.
G. elliptica ‑ the male plant produces long grey‑green catkins in January and February. The female produces long clusters of purple brown fruits. 'James Roof' is a strong, upright growing male form with extra long catkins.
GAULTHERIA ‑ member of the Rhododendron family enjoying the same conditions of moist, acid soils, preferably peaty and with some shade. Most spread slowly with underground stems, white flowers in late spring. The following are reliable.
G. adenothrix ‑ tiny dwarf creeping shrub, pinkish flowers, hairy crimson fruit.
G. cuneata ‑ dwarf compact shrub producing white fruits, smelling of germoline when crushed .
G. procumbens ‑ 'Checkerberry', evergreen carpet with bright red fruits.
G. shallon ‑ vigorous up to 1m high, ideal undergrowth, white flowers, large clusters of purple fruits.
HIPPOPHAE rhamnoides ‑ Sea Buckthorn, a tall shrub or small tree for any soil, good for maritime exposure. Narrow silver leaves in summer, orange yellow berries in winter. Plant in groups to ensure both sexes are present in order to have fruit.
ILEX ‑ a large family of evergreens and deciduous shrubs, happy in most soils and not choosy as to sun or shade. Most are good hedging subjects and will withstand pollution and maritime atmosphere. Contains some good variegated plants. Most hollies produce male or female flowers, and named clones most be planted together to ensure berries. The following are listed according to their sexes.
Male
'Atkinsonii' one of the best greens
'Crassifolia' slow growing spines variegated
'Elegantissima'bold and spiny
'Ferox' hedgehog holly
'Golden Milkboy' with golden splashes
'Golden Queen' broad yellow leaf margin
'Handsworthensis' small spiny and green
'Silver Milkboy' leaves blotched creamy white
'Silver Queen' leaves bordered creamy white.
Female (will bear berries)
'Golden King' one of the best, variegated
'Hendersonii' compact heavy berry crop
'Handsworth New Silver' creamy white leaves
'Madame Briot' mottled yellow foliage
Self Fertile Female Hollies
I. 'J C Van Tol' is said to be self fetile and ideal if you only have room for one eurpean holly.
LEYCESTERIA formosa ‑ medium-sized upright shrub with hollow stems. White flowers June to September followed by reddish purple berries which are attractive to pheasants. Flowers are sometimes called Granny's Curls or Flowering Nutmeg.
MAHONIA ‑ a family of shade loving evergreens with yellow flowers in winter and followed by blue black berries.
M. aquifolium ‑ the holly leaved berberis or Oregon Grape, excellent ground cover under trees. Young foliage tinged bronze in spring, good reddish bronze tones in autumn.
M. bealei ‑ lily of the valley scented flowers in winter and has dense bushy habit.
M. japonica ‑ slow growing up to 3m bold foliage, scented flowers. The form 'Charity' is earlier flowering and hardier.
M. lomariifolia - has very long compound leaves, needs shelter for it to flower, which appear in November and December.
PERNETTYA ‑ hardy evergreens for peaty, acid soils. Whilst tolerating shade, they flower and fruit better in some sun and should be planted in groups to ensure cross-pollination as they vary in flowering and fruiting capabilities. Form good ground cover.
P. mucronata ‑ one of the showiest evergreens when in fruit. White flowers in May and June. Plant three females to one male. Fruits vary in colour (female).
P.m. 'Alba'‑ white berries ageing with a pink tinge (female)
P.m. 'Atrococcinea' ‑ deep red shining berries (female)
P.m. 'Cherry Ripe' ‑ red berries (female)
P.m. 'Edward Balls' ‑ upright male pollinator
P.m. 'Pink Pearl' ‑ lilac pink berries (female)
PYRACANTHA ‑ The Firethorns are closely related to the Cotoneasters but have thorny branches. Can be grown as wall shrubs, hedges and individual specimens. Tolerant of all types of exposure and will grow in any fertile soil. Masses of hawthorn‑like flowers in summer are followed by yellow orange or red fruits.
P. Buttercup ‑ spreading habit, small yellow fruits.
P. Coccinea ‑ large shrub with rich red berries.
P. Coccinea - 'Lalandei' ‑ most popular stronger growing type, larger leaves and orange red fruit.
P. 'Orange Glow' ‑ vigorous, dense habit, orange red fruits, lasts well into the winter.
P. rogersiana Flava ‑ a large free fruiting bush with yellow berries.
ROSA ‑ for hips, the following are some of the best.
R. alba semi plena ‑ large shrub with greyish foliage, white blooms, followed by red hips.
R. canina andersonii ‑ dog rose type, pink fragrant flower in July, twiggy habit, scarlet hips.
R. highdownensis ‑ thorny moyesii seedling, single crimson flowers and red bottle shaped fruits.
R. moyesii ‑ one of the best up to 10' single blood-red flowers, very large fruits, try the form R. geranium.
Rosa rugosa ‑ usually single flower and followed by large tomato like fruit.
R. webbiana ‑ graceful shrub up to 6' (1.8m), single pink flowers followed by red pitcher shaped fruit.
SKIMMIA ‑ Slow growing aromatic evergreens with male and female flowers on different plants, all are tolerant of shade and happy in industrial and maritime situations.
S. japonica ‑ white flowers in April/May, female plants bear red berries for any soil type.
S. japonica 'Foremanii' ‑ vigorous female clone, bright red berries.
S. japonica Fructo‑alba ‑ a weaker growing female clone of tight habit, white fruits.
S. japonica 'Nymans' ‑ a free fruiting female.
S. japonica 'Rubella' ‑ a male clone with red tipped buds in winter, opening white in spring.
STRANVAESIA ‑ Cotoneaster like evergreens, white flowers in June followed by red bird proof fruits, good as screens or hedges for any soil, sun or shade, tolerant of atmospheric pollution.
S. davidiana ‑ good autumn colour, vigorous large shrub or small tree, globular crimson fruits.
S. davidiana 'Fructoluteo' ‑ a selected form with bright yellow fruits.
SYMPHORICARPUS ‑ deciduous shrubs for shade even amongst roots and drips, bearing heavy crops of white or pink berries, lasting well into winter, untouched by birds.
S. Albus 'Snowberry' ‑ small dense suckering shrub with white berries.
S. 'Magic Berry' ‑ compact small shrub with large numbers of rose pink berries.
S. albus 'White Hedge' ‑ upright habit producing many small white berries.
VACCINIUM ‑ A large family of shrubs requiring similar conditions to heathers but preferring more shade and moisture, excellent for very acid soil. The following are well worth growing;
V. arctostaphylos ‑ low growing shrub with white flowers in summer followed by black berries.
V. delavayi ‑ slow growing compact shrub, white flowers and purple blue berries.
V. vitis‑idaea 'crowberry' ‑ dwarf creeping evergreen with red edible fruits.
VIBURNUM ‑ A large family of easy to grow shrubs, most have white, sometimes scented flowers, often followed by brightly coloured berries, grow in groups to ensure pollination.
V. betulifolium ‑ upright, medium-sized shrub with deep red autumn colour of masses of red currant like fruit. Older plants only berry, but one of the best, plant several to ensure berries.
V. opulus 'Guelder Rose' ‑ a vigorous shrub, with hydrangea like flowers in June and July followed by bunches of red berries, foliage colours well in the autumn.
V. opulus 'Fructu-luteo' ‑ the fruits are lemon with a tinge of pink.
V. opulus 'Xanthocarpum' ‑ clear yellow fruits, almost translucent when ripe.
TREES WITH ORNAMENTAL FRUITS
ACER pseudoplatanus erythrocarpum - Sycamore ‑ a large quick growing tree for any soil or site, this form has attractive red winged seeds.
ALIANTHUS altissima - Tree of Heaven ‑ a large fast-growing architectural tree, good in industrial pollution, female trees produce eye‑catching bunches of reddish key like fruits, ash like leaves can be up to 3' long (1.0m).
ARBUTUS - Strawberry Trees ‑ are some of the most ornamental of the small evergreens up to 20' high (6.4m). Members of the rhododendron family requiring similar conditions, e.g. moist peaty acid soil, and when happy produce attractive but bitter strawberry fruits.
A. andrachne 'Grecian Strawberry Tree' ‑ white flowers in spring, stems brown, tender when young.
A. menziesii 'Madrona Strawberry' ‑ up to 18m high, small orange yellow fruits.
A. unedo 'Killarney Strawberry' ‑ small tree flowers and fruits simultaneously in autumn, lime tolerant, attractive gnarled trunk and branches.
CATALPA ‑ large leaved late flowering low spreading tree for any soil but sheltered sites. Foxglove-like flowers are followed by typical Indian Beans.
C. bignonioides ‑ white flowers with yellow and purple markings.
GLEDITSIA triacanthos - Honey Toast ‑ flowers insignificant but produces long flattened seed pods, grows well on any well drained soil, tolerant of atmospheric pollution, the form 'Sunburst' is much smaller with golden foliage, unfortunately, branches are brittle.
KOELREUTERIA paniculata - China Tree or Golden Rain Tree - flattened headed tree up to 12m high (36') for any well drained soil, best on hot dry sites and in good summers, yellow flowers conspicuous bladder like fruits, good autumn foliage.
MAGNOLIA ‑ normally regarded as magnificent flowering trees, the fruit clusters of some species are most colourful in the autumn. Magnolias need rich well drained soil with plenty of moisture, early flowering types are best planted in sheltered positions.
M. campbellii ‑ large pink flowers in February/March, only trees of twenty years will flower and fruit.
M. obovata ‑ medium-sized tree, creamy white fragrant flowers, attractive fruit clusters.
M. tripetala 'Umbrella Tree' ‑ with scented cream flowers in May/June, followed by red cone-shaped fruit clusters.
Malus - Flowering Crab ‑ are easily grown small trees for any fertile soil. Flowers are produced during April and May, followed by very attractive fruits persisting in some cases well into winter, the following are only a few of the best:
M. 'Golden Hornet' ‑ white flowers, bright yellow fruits, retained well into winter.
M. 'John Downie' ‑ wine red flowers, orange red fruits of pleasant flavour.
M. 'Profusion' ‑ wine red flowers, followed by small ox blood-red fruit.
M. 'Wintergold' ‑ white tinged pink flowers, followed by many long-lasting yellow fruits.
SORBUS ‑ a large group of mainly small trees suited to any well drained, fertile soil. In most cases, flowers are white and appear in May and early June. Includes the Rowans or Mountain Ash and the Whitebeams which give a wealth of autumn colour, only a few of the very best are listed below;
S. aria 'Majestica' ‑ large leaves, white underneath, bunches of deep crimson fruits.
S. aucuparia 'Xanthocarpa' ‑yellow fruited Mountain Ash.
S. hupehensis ‑ small compact rowan fruits, white tinged pink.
S. 'Joseph Rock' ‑ a rowan of unknown origin with yellow fruits.
S. prattii ‑ rowan type small tree with pearly white fruits in dropping clusters.
S. vilmorinii ‑ a beautiful small rowan, fruits pass from red to pink to flushed white.
CLIMBERS PRODUCING FRUIT
ACTINIDIA chinensis
CLEMATIS several including; C. orientalis, C. tangutica
PASSIFLORA caerulea
VITIS 'Brant'
CONIFERS BEARING ATTRACTIVE FRUITS
ABIES - many including: A. delavayi, A. koreana, A. procera
PICEA - many including: P. likiangensis, P. smithiana PINUS - many including; P. wallichiana
TAXUS bacata 'Lutea'
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING
Many gardening books have sections on trees and shrubs that will deal with berried plants.
Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs published by David & Charles.
An online search will bring up any new titles and details of the publishers. I would also encourage you to search the online second hand bookshops as they offer
The information given in this Fact Sheet is provided in good faith. It is however of necessity general information and advice on the topic. Howard Drury will not be under any liability in respect of the provision of such advice and information, and you are strongly advised to seek independent advice on any particular gardening problems or queries you may have, preferably from experts who can (when appropriate) inspect the problem before providing advice.
(C) 2025. This material has been produced by Howard Drury and must not be reproduced in part or full without the written consent of Howard Drury, Kings Heath Birmingham, B13 0SJ.
JHD/17/02/2025
