Jewels of the Fall Garden: 16 Berry-Bearing Shrubs & Trees for Color & Wildlife

Fall gardens often focus on flowers and foliage, but ornamental berries can bejewel a landscape from autumn into winter. They create focal points, work as espaliers (like pyracantha), provide cut branches for arrangements, and attract birds—beautyberry, cotoneaster, pyracantha, toyon, viburnum, and more.

Shop in fall; plant immediately or stage in containers for holiday display.

16 Berry-Worthy Plants

Beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion')

Amethyst-purple clusters on bare stems after willow-like leaves drop. Deciduous, 6+ ft. tall/wide. Sun/light shade. Zones 3–9, 14–24.

Cotoneaster (4 standout species)

• C. dammeri (bearberry): Bright red fruit, dark evergreen leaves. Ground cover, 6–12 in. tall, spreads 10 ft. Sun/part shade. Zones 2–24.
• C. divaricatus: Red egg-shaped fruits, orange-red fall foliage. Deciduous, 6 ft. Sun. Zones 1–24.
• C. horizontalis: Red fruits, herringbone branches, orange-red leaves. Deciduous, 2–3 ft. tall, 15 ft. wide. Sun. Zones 2b–11, 14–24, A3.
• C. lacteus: Long-lasting red clusters, dark evergreen leaves. Sun. Zones 4–24.

Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendrum trichotomum)

Shiny blue/turquoise berries framed by scarlet calyxes. Deciduous, 10–15 ft. Part shade. Zones 15–17, 20–24 (zones 5–6 may freeze to ground).

Hawthorn (Crataegus)

• Carriere (C. × lavallei): Orange-red crabapple-sized fruits, bronzy evergreen leaves. 25 ft. tall, 15–20 ft. wide. Zones 3–12, 14–21.
• Green (C. viridis 'Winter King'): Masses of red berries on naked branches. 25–30 ft. Zones 2–12, 14–17.

Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)

Green to red to purplish-black berries. Deciduous, 6 ft. Sun/light shade. Zones 4–6, 14–17, 20–24.

Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

Deep blue fruits, holly-like evergreen leaves. Species 6 ft. tall, 5 ft. wide; 'Compacta' 2–3 ft. tall, spreads 5+ ft. Any exposure (shade in hottest). Zones 2–12, 14–24.

Pyracantha (Firethorn)

Pea-sized red/orange/yellow berries, glossy evergreen (semi in cold). 3–15 ft. tall, 4–10 ft. wide. Sun. Zones 3–24.

Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)

Olive-sized fruits: yellow to red. Borne with urn-shaped flowers on evergreen leaves. Species 8–35 ft.; compact 5–8 ft. Sun/part shade (essential in desert). Zones 4–24.

Toyon / California Holly (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

Bright red pea-sized fruits, glossy dark green leaves. Dense shrub 6–10 ft. or single-trunk tree 15–25 ft. Sun/part shade. Zones 5–19, 14–24.

Viburnum (3 top performers)

• V. davidii: Metallic blue fruits, glossy dark green leaves. Evergreen, 3–4 ft. Part shade. Zones 4–9, 14–24.
• V. opulus: Upright red clusters into winter; yellow/red/purple fall color. Deciduous, 8–15 ft. Sun/part shade. Zones 1–9, 14–24, A2–A3.
• V. rhytidophyllum (leatherleaf): Scarlet to black fruits, wrinkled deep green leaves. Evergreen, 8–15 ft. tall, 6–12 ft. wide. Deep shade tolerant. Zones 3–9, 14–24.