Some plants have berries which outshine their flowers and autumn is no better time to showcase this rainbow of colour, particularly with a light dusting of frost. Here's a selection of my favourite berries to brighten up your garden this autumn.
Red berries
Cotoneaster: A large family of shrubs, ranging from low growers to small trees, Cotoneaster is versatile and easy-to-care-for. Plants carry small, white bee-friendly flowers, but the berries are the main attraction.
Choose C. conspiccus, ‘Coral Beauty’ or ‘Cornubia’, depending on available space.
Orange berries
Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’: Don’t let firethorn’s popularity diminish its flame. With bee-magnet foamy flowers and bird-magnet berries, this spiky shrub is great for aesthetics, wildlife and warding off unwelcome visitors.
Yellow berries
Viburnum opulus ‘Xanthocarpum’: A variety of our native Guelder Rose, the berries on this deciduous shrub is not only an unusual shade of yellow but also translucent. If the berries survive the birds you’ll be treated to a great contrast against the plant’s red autumn leaves.
Blue berries
Clerodenron trichotomum: What a stunner! This large shrub bears fragrant white flowers set against pink calyces. But it doesn’t stop there; berries often appear at the same time as the flowers – a real show-stopper! Prefers a sheltered area.
Purple berries
Callicarpa ‘Profusion’: Possibly the most striking berry on this list. The clusters of purple berries are a great talking point and provide contrast to the generally warmer tones of autumn.
This variety has better berry production.
White berries
Gaultheria mucronata ‘Snow White’: Not a rainbow colour, but worth a mention as white is rare in berries. A prickly low-growing shrub that prefers acidic conditions. Also available in pink and purple shades and perfect for winter containers.
