1. 28 GREEN SCENE • march/april 2010
The FRUITS of Winter
In the gray winter landscape, when we all
could use a little color, many hardy
woody plants bear attractive, persistent
fruits in shades of red, yellow, or orange.
These winter wonders not only feed wildlife
and decorate indoor holiday displays, but
the very sight of their round, waxy berries
has the remarkable ability to cheer our souls.
When designing a new garden or landscape
planting, take note of this cold-season
palette.
For starters, what would winter be with-
out the hallmark red berries of holly (Ilex)?
But other fruiting plants offer stunning color,
too, through russet red hips, indigo berries,
and violet-fruited clusters. The vibrant
pomes, hips, and berries of firethorn, winter-
green, red chokeberry, and viburnum make
the winter landscape come alive. Some of the
best trees for winter color are hawthorns,
such as Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’, a
PHS Gold Medal Plant Award winner.
The heavy-fruiting, brilliant red chokeber-
ry (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’) pro-
duces pendulous clusters of ruby-hued fruits
Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’

2. GREEN SCENE • march/april 2010 29
that ripen in fall and persist until the birds
find them, usually by mid-winter. Fiery red
foliage in autumn adds to the show, but
these plants lose no charm after the leaves
have fallen.
Most people think of beautyberries as sum-
mer fruits, but some cultivars have unusually
persistent berries, such as Callicarpa
dichotoma ‘Early Amethyst’. Its clusters of
glossy, glowing violet berries look even more
striking against a backdrop of evergreen
foliage. For a cooler look, consider the blue-
green foliage of Juniperus scopulorum
‘Wichita Blue’.
Big color comes in small packages, too.
The fragrant American wintergreen
(Gaultheria procumbens) comes to mind.
Coveted for outdoor holiday containers, its
rose-red berries remain colorful for a long
time against deep green leaves.
Native to North America, Winterberry
(Ilex verticillata) and its hybrids arguably top
the list of the berried beauties. A deciduous
holly, winterberry’s bright berries shine
against bare, gray-brown branches unob-
structed by foliage. New cultivars with
improved color and berry production regu-
larly appear in nurseries. Two classic culti-
vars, ‘Winter Red’ and ‘Winter Gold’ (both
PHS Gold Medal plants), look superb
Ilex serrata ‘Gempei’
Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides
Viburnum dilatatum

3. 30 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201030
together, but be sure to include a male polli-
nator like ‘Jim Dandy.’ A Chinese winterber-
ry relative, Ilex serrata, has a rare, garden-wor-
thy cultivar called ‘Gempei’, which boasts
pale yellow berries striped with red.
Dense clusters of orange-red, orange, or
gold fruits decorate the stems of firethorn
(Pyracantha sp.). Most garden centers carry
tall, prolific, orange-fruited cultivars like the
hybrid ‘Mohave’ and P. coccinea ‘Lalandei’.
Selections like ‘Soleil D’Or’, with its golden
orange pomes, are harder to find, but no
more colorful and exciting.
Lots of roses have showy hips that last well
into winter, but the massive red hips of Rosa
rugosa stand out due to their
size and complimentary—but wickedly
thorny— stems. As they age, the hips darken
and lose luster, but still offer captivating color
and texture.
FISH IN THE GARDEN AD
The Fruits of Winter
Gaultheria
procumbens

4. GREEN SCENE • march/april 2010 31
COLONIAL
WILLIAMSBURG
AD
LANDSCAPE DESIGN AD
The list of beautiful viburnums with love-
ly winter berries is a long one. Berry clusters
of all shapes and sizes sport fruits in pleasing
warm or cool shades. The eastern North
American possumhaw (Viburnum nudum)
has large clusters of small oval berries that are
pink in late summer and mature to Concord-
grape blue-black. The compact cultivar,
‘Bulk’ (Brandywine™), puts on an impres-
sive winter berry display with equally impres-
sive purplish-red fall color. The spectacular
Wright’s viburnum (Viburnum wrightii) pro-
duces broad clusters of small, candy-apple-
red berries that light up the dreariest winter
days, as do the deep red berries of Viburnum
dilatatum. For a showy golden-berried form,
choose ‘Michael Dodge’.
Like everything in nature, the vivid colors
of winter fruit have a purpose. Eye-catching
hues attract wildlife and ensure that seeds

5. 32 GREEN SCENE • march/april 2010
MILORGANITE
AD
Callicarpa

6. GREEN SCENE • march/april 2010 33
PHILADELPHIA ANTIQUE
SHOW AD
FOLIO ART GLASS AD
The Fruits of Winter
spread far and wide. Birds flock to bold col-
ors, particularly red (think Snow White and
that tempting apple). The tastiest fruits dis-
appear by early winter, so those that persist
deep into the season tend to be the least
favored by animals. Many berries actually fer-
ment on the stem; their flavor and desirabili-
ty changes as the season progresses. Birds can
actually get drunk by eating late-season
berries, often to their detriment. Keep an eye
out for weaving waxwings or comical cardi-
nals.
So this year, instead of just waiting for
spring, drink in the fruits of winter. Take
time to visit outstanding winter gardens in
your area to get ideas for next year’s land-
scape. Gardening for winter offers just as
many rewards as the warmer seasons—and
for some of us, perhaps even more .
Visit Jessie’s gardening website at jessiekeith.com.