Five kinds of woody ornamentals share the colorful characteristic of producing red, orange or yellow berry-like fruit that can persist from autumn to spring. At times, it appears as if the birds neglect this fruit. However, ones like waxwings, mockingbirds, robins, and woodpeckers wait until the fruits are thoroughly ripe before demolishing them.
These plants also provide winter shelter for feeding birds. Two, Nandina domestica (nandina or heavenly bamboo) and Pyracantha spp.(firethorn) have evergreen leaves, whereas two, Malus spp. (crabapple) and Crataegus spp. (hawthorn), are deciduous and lose their leaves in autumn. Ilex spp. (holly) has both evergreen and deciduous members.
- Nandina (Barberry family, plant hardiness zones 6-9) is normally a shrub used as a foundation planting close to buildings, and heavily pruned. If left unpruned, nandina develops leaves sporting a red winter glow and branches bending with heavy red fruit.
- Pyracantha (Rose family, plant hardiness zones 6-10) grows fast, and produces large thorny plants. It often sprawls but makes an effective hedge when systematically pruned. Pyracantha, creatively trained, makes an interesting espalier, held flat against a wall, where the orange berries shine dramatically. This shrub also makes an excellent cover for slopes in hot, dry areas.
- The genus Malus (Rose family, plant hardiness zones 4 – 7) includes 20 to 30 species of crabapple growing in the temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia, and at least 100 to 200 varieties of crabapples grow in North American nurseries, states Michael A. Dirr, page 631, in Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses, Stipes Publishing L.L.C.,Champaign, IL 61824, Fifth Edition, Revised 1998. Heavily fruiting crabapples are a delight to observe, not only because of the birds they attract but also because of their distinctive branching. Choose crabapple trees wisely for disease resistance, fruit color that ranges from red, orange and yellow to green, as well as attractiveness to birds.
- Choose Crataegus (Rose family, plant hardiness growing zones 4 – 7, possibly 8) species and varieties wisely because they are susceptible to many of the same diseases as crabapples. Fruit from these trees varies from red and orange to yellow in color and from 1/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Smaller fruiting varieties appear best planted against a backdrop of evergreen needle-leaf trees like pines and hemlocks. According to Dirr, page 300, Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ and varieties of C. phaenopyrum are outstanding for landscape use.
- Evergreen Ilex (Holly family, plant hardiness growing zones 6 -9, possibly 5) species and varieties develop red and orange to yellow fruits commonly about ¼ inch in diameter. Varieties with heavy fruiting qualities and pyramid shapes make the most dramatic landscape impact.
- Ilex verticillata (common winterberry / black alder) is a native North American deciduous holly that ranges from plant growing zone 3 to 9. It is a relatively small tree growing from six to ten feet in height with a similar spread. Male pollen-producing plants need planting in close proximity to female flower-producing plants for maximum fruit set. Cultivars develop handsome red, orange and yellow fruit. Winterberry fruits are among the first eaten in the autumn and early winter by wild birds. Plant these trees in masses for optimum landscape effect. Outstanding female cultivars are ‘Winter Red’® (red berries), ‘Winter Gold’ (orange pink) and ‘Sparkleberry’ (hybrid between I. verticillata and I. serrata, a U.S. National Arboretum introduction).
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