Outdoor Green Plants With Berries

Wintergreen

• Wintergreen plants (Gaultheria procumbens) bear shiny, leathery, deep green leaves that turn purple in the autumn. The nodding, white flowers appear in June and July, giving way to red berries that last throughout the winter. These edible berries taste and smell like wintergreen and can be used in salads and pastries. Native to the eastern parts of North America, wintergreen winters well in zones 3 to 8. Mature plants range from 3 to 6 inches in height and spread out 6 to 12 inches. This broadleaf evergreen prefers acidic, moist soils in partially to fully shady locations. Plants can tolerate some dry soil conditions, but grow best in areas with cooler summers. Keep an eye out for thrips, mildew and aphids. Use wintergreen as an attractive ground cover in shady areas of your rock gardens, native plant areas or woodland gardens.

American Holly

• American holly (Ilex opaca) bears spiny-toothed, drab green leaves and non-showy cream to greenish-white flowers that appear in May. These flowers give way to red berries that mature in October and last throughout winter. Native to the central and eastern regions of the U.S., this broadleaf evergreen generally winters well in zones 5 to 9. Mature plants range from 15 to 30 feet in height with spreads between 10 and 20 feet. American hollies prefer partially shady to fully sunny locations that offer protection from harsh winter weather. Watch out for tar spot, leaf drop, mites and holly leaf miners. Plant American hollies in small groups or use just one as a specimen plant.

Coralberry

• The coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), also called the Indian currant, is a deciduous shrub that ranges from 2 to 5 feet in height and 4 to 8 feet in width. Native to Mexico and the eastern U.S., the coralberry typically winters well in zones 2 to 7. This outdoor plant features blue-green, oval leaves and bell-shaped, pinkish white flowers that bloom in June and July. Clusters of coral to coral-red berries follow the flowers and last throughout much of the winter. Coralberry shrubs tolerate various soil conditions, but prefer well-drained soils in fully sunny to partially shady locations. This shrub has no serious health or pest problems. Plant coralberry shrubs as informal hedges or erosion control plants. Coralberries also work well in open woodlands and native plant gardens.

Japanese Barberry

• Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) features spiny stems and bluish-green to bright green leaves that turn orange, red and purple shades in the autumn. Small, light yellow flowers bloom in April and May, followed by shiny, red berries that last through the winter. Japanese barberries sometimes suffer from root rot, rusts and wilts. Winter hardy in zones 4 to 8, this Japanese native prefers well-drained soils in fully sunny locations. This deciduous shrub tolerates heat, drought and urban conditions. Mature shrubs range from 3 to 6 feet in height with slightly larger spreads. Use Japanese barberry as barrier plants, shrub borders or hedges.