The York Guardian

There are a number of shrubs, deciduous and evergreen yielding lovely red berries that persist throughout the winter. Consider the following shrubs as colourful show-pieces in your winter garden. These plants will be sure to remedy any case of the winter blues.

American Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum) is a native shrub with bright red berries that persist from fall to winter and is a favourite of birds. The berries are edible and may be used to make home preserves and jellies. This is a shrub for a larger area with height and spread between eight to twelve feet. Although it is spectacular in the winter, I would consider it a great shrub all year round.

Cranberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus) is a low mounded deciduous shrub with attractive red winter berries that persist throughout the winter months. Mature height and spread are roughly three feet. Suitable for slope side plantings, massed in a shrub border or draped over a stone wall, it is a fantastic all-season shrub that has a variety of uses complementing any style of garden.

Holly (Ilex x meserveae) is one of my favourite broadleaf evergreens. Typically it has cultivars with feminine names like Blue Princess, which produce wonderful red berries that persist in the winter. The masculine version, 'Blue Prince,' does not bear the fruit but acts as essential pollinator. One must have a male holly planted near a female holly in order to ensure a good fruit set. One male holly is a sufficient pollinator for a group of up to six female plants. The branches of the holly can be a welcome source of colour in your winter urns or as part of a holiday centrepiece at the table.

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is a native deciduous shrub that is not too common in the North American garden. Actually, winterberries are deciduous hollies whose leaves drop in the fall, exposing the stunning red berries. Despite its lack of popularity, it has the most magnificent show in the winter landscape. Height and spread are about six feet but it can be easily maintained in a smaller garden with pruning.

The large bright red fruit, about a quarter of an inch in diameter, are adored by birds. I have planted this shrub successfully in a group of five under pine trees with three to four hours of sun exposure. Male and female cultivars exist similar to the holly so be sure to combine both males and females.

So forget the winter blahs in your garden this year and add some colourful winter interest. Red berries breathe life and colour into the winter garden.

Marilyn Pomer is a landscape designer for Greenescape Designs Inc. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail Marilyn at marilyn@greenescape.ca.