9 Bird-Friendly Native Shrubs with Colorful Fall Fruit

Winterberry

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), a deciduous holly native to eastern North America, produces rounded, brilliantly colored fruit in the fall. Depending on the variety, the berries are red or yellow. When the leaves drop after a heavy frost, the berries stand out boldly against the dark stems. Varieties range in height from the compact ‘Berry Poppins’, which grows 3 to 4 feet tall, to ‘Winter Red’ and ‘Winter Gold’, which grow 8 to 10 feet tall or more. The berries are toxic to humans.

Hollies bear female and male flowers on separate plants, and only females produce fruit. To be sure you get fruit, purchase the appropriate male to pollinate the flowers of the female plant you select, i.e., ‘Mr. Poppins’ for ‘Berry Poppins’, or ‘Southern Gentleman’ for ‘Winter Red’ or ‘Winter Gold’.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil, but adapts to wet soil

Size: 3-15 feet tall, 3-12 feet wide

Zones: 3-9

Coralberry

Another deciduous shrub native to the eastern United States, coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) is a member of the honeysuckle family. While its flowers are not particularly showy, they attract a variety of pollinators. The flowers are followed by clusters of purple, lavender, red, pink, or white fruit that put on quite a show from September to December. While toxic to humans, birds eat the berries. 

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil

Size: 2-4 feet tall, 3-6 feet wide

Zones: 3-8

Beautyberry

A member of the mint family, the American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a beautyberry that is native to the southeastern United States (there are also species native to Asia). Its early summer flowers give way to clusters of rounded berries that flank the stems. The fruiting stems make great additions to indoor fall arrangements. While typically purple, some varieties sport pink and white fruit. Whatever the color, birds love these berries.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

Size: 3-8 feet tall, 3-6 feet wide

Zones: 6-10

Black Chokeberry

Native to the eastern and midwestern United States, black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a low-maintenance shrub that bears clusters of dainty white flowers in spring. In the fall, its glossy green leaves turn red and burgundy, providing a colorful foil for its shiny, round black fruit. The fruit is favored by a variety of wildlife and can be used to make jams and jellies. The closely related red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is similar but bears red fruit.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

Size: 4-10 feet tall, 2-6 feet wide

Zones: 3-8

Bunchberry

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is a low-growing shrub that is closely related to the flowering dogwood. It is useful as a shrubby groundcover that provides interest from spring to fall. Its familiar dogwood-type flowers appear in spring against deep green leaves. In the fall, the leaves turn red and purple, setting off its bright red berries that birds love. It spreads by rhizomes and makes a nice underplanting for trees and taller shrubs.

Growing Conditions: Part sun to full shade; moist, well-drained soil

Size: 4-8 inches tall, 6-12 inches wide

Zones: 2-6

Possomhaw Viburnum

Sometimes called smooth witherod, the possumhaw viburnum (Viburnum nudum) is a large, easy-to-grow deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. It has flat-topped clusters of fragrant white flowers in spring, followed by edible green, pink, or blue fruit in fall that matures to purple-black. Clusters of fruit often display several colors at the same time, putting on a dramatic show. The flowers attract pollinators, and the berries feed songbirds. ‘Brandywine’ and ‘Winterthur’ are two outstanding varieties.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained to wet soil

Size: 5-12 feet tall and wide

Zones: 5-9

Arrowwood Viburnum

With its large clusters of cream-colored flowers from spring to early summer and grape-like bunches of blue-black fall fruit, the arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is attractive throughout the growing season. This is another great choice for wildlife-friendly gardens. Its flowers attract pollinators, including native bees. Its dense, leafy branches provide shelter for nesting birds, and its fruit feeds songbirds, wild turkey, and squirrels. ‘Blue Muffin’ produces pretty blue fruit if another variety, such as ‘Chicago Luster’, is planted nearby.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

Size: 5-10 feet tall, 6-10 feet wide

Zones: 3-8

American Cranberrybush

American cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum, formerly V. opulus var. americanum), also known as cranberry viburnum, is a dense, upright deciduous shrub native to North America. It bears 3-inch, flat-topped clusters of white flowers in spring. These are followed by drooping bunches of shiny red berries that show off nicely against the dark green maple-like leaves that morph to purple-red in fall. The berries resemble cranberries and are edible; use them to make jams and jellies if you can get to them before the birds.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil

Size: 8-12 feet tall and wide

Zones: 2-7

Elderberry

The American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a terrific choice for a wildlife-friendly garden. Its shrubby branches are favorite nesting sites for birds, and the dinnerplate-sized clusters of white flowers attract all kinds of pollinators. The equally large clusters of purple fall berries are enjoyed by both humans and birds. Except for the flowers, all parts of the plant are toxic to humans, and berries must be fully ripe and cooked to make them safe to eat.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil

Size: 5-12 feet tall and wide

Zones: 4-9