Winter Berries
In the winter months gardeners need to rely on plant features besides flowers for color interest. Plants that produce colorful berries can enhance the winter landscape. Pyracantha is a landscape plant that almost drips large numbers of orange berries that hang in heavy clusters. The common name for pyracantha is firethorn, and it certainly lives up to this name with the sharp thorns on almost all of the branches. Native hollies all have red berries and the yaupon holly may have the most interesting. The berries are a translucent red that give the impression of having depth. The branches and stems are a bright gray color that provides a nice contrast to the berries. This specimen of weeping yaupon holly has the added interest of its downward arching branches. The botanical name of yaupon holly is Ilex vomitoria; I think you can guess what the native peoples used this plant for. Red and orange seem to be the dominant berry colors most widely available. But a winter favorite of mine is the American beautyberry. This Mississippi native shrub, commonly found along the edges of wooded areas, should be used more in the home landscape. The berries are a bright, shiny purple displayed in clusters all along the arching stems. Besides adding beauty to our landscapes, plants that produce berries also play an important role as a winter food source for wildlife. I’m Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.