Winter Berries Aren't Just for Eating
Some Winter Berries Are to Make Gardens Look Great
When I talk about berries, I'm usually talking about the kind you can eat, jar, cook and can with. I would be remiss if I didn't say that some berries are useful even though they may not be edible. In fact, there are many winter berries that can't be eaten, but can sure make a dead winter garden come to life. Here are just a few examples.
Skimmia Japonica
If you like shiny red winter berries, the Skimmia Japonica is the berry bush for you. It's an evergreen shrub that makes a great year-round plant. Male shrubs bloom flowers in the late spring and the little berries appear through the winter. Just be careful -- you need to make sure you get both male and female plants if you want berries to appear all year round.
Billardiera Longiflora
Another plant that is great for winter berries is the Billardiera Longiflora. Unlike many winter berry plants, this one isn't a shrub -- it's a vine. The berries it produces are almost purple and they last well into the month of January. In the summer it's also quite attractive with pretty yellow flowers on display.
Holly
Of course, holly is the most famous winter berry of all. While these shrubs typically do best in wetland areas, you can get them to grow well in other climates as well, as long as you take good care of the plants. The work is worth it, as we all know they're some of the most festive winter berries around.
So remember, berries aren't just for eating. They're for livening up a garden too. Keep that in mind and consider planting one of these winter berry varieties if your gardens tend to hibernate in the colder months of the year.