As we move into autumn, there is a way to bring more color, more interest, and more drama into your backyard: by planting fall-fruiting bushes. These will bring you the double benefit of colorful berries and the colorful birds that the berries attract.
Many bird species gorge on fall berries before they migrate south, and many other species, like cardinals, nuthatches, and blue jays, stay for the winter and continue to feed off the berries in your garden. Want to attract more birds to your backyard? Start with these attractive, fall-fruiting favorites:
juniper
There are hundreds of varieties of juniper in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Junipers not only provide a pretty blue berry, but they also provide good cover and choice nesting locations. Good berry producers are Juniperus ‘Grey Owl’ and Juniperus ‘Blueberry Delight.’
Grey Owl: Grows in full sun. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. Blueberry Delight: Grows in full sun to part shade. Grows to 2 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide.
Junipers not only provide a pretty blue berry, but they also provide good cover and choice nesting locations.
VIBURNUM
Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’ is a Victoria Gardens favorite. It has very sophisticated blue-green foliage and is covered in lacy white flowers from June until September. In the fall, the flowers are replaced by lacy red florets and egg-shaped berries.
Grows in full sun.
Grows 5 to 8 feet tall and wide.
BEAUTYBERRY
Callicarpa americana, commonly known as beautyberry, has more subtle summer flowers that cover its gracefully arching branches, but the real show comes in September when the branches are covered in candy-colored purple berries.
Grow in full sun to part shade.
Grows 3 to 5 feet tall and wide.
Holly
Like juniper, holly offers birds both evergreen shelter from predators and prolific fruit. It accentuates your winter garden with rich, deep green foliage. We love ‘Berryrific’ holly because a male and female are planted in one pot, ensuring prolific fruiting, and ‘Golden Girl’ holly for the exceptional color of its berries.
Grows in part shade to full sun.
Grows 6 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide (check variety).
Holly offers birds both evergreen shelter from predators and prolific fruit.
