Transform your yard into a winter sanctuary with berry-producing shrubs that blend visual splendor with vital support for wildlife. These resilient plants offer stunning seasonal displays while sustaining birds during the toughest months.
Here are 16 shrubs that act as natural bird feeders while adding year-round beauty to your garden. Each one enhances your landscape with vibrant berries and critical ecological benefits.
1. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
A stunning native shrub that loses its leaves to reveal brilliant red berries persisting through winter. These bright fruits create a dramatic display against snow and provide essential food for birds.
Reaching 3-15 feet, winterberry thrives in wet and acidic soils. Plant one male shrub for every 5-7 female plants in full sun to partial shade for best berry production.
STOP BUYING GREENS: This Machine Grows $1000s Worth Automatically
✓ Set It & Forget It: Fully Automated Growing
✓ From Seed to Harvest in Days - No Experience Needed
✓ Grow Premium Microgreens Worth $50/lb Year-Round
Note: This is an affiliate link and we may earn a small commission if you purchase at no additional cost. This helps keep our website free to use.
2. Red Currant (Ribes rubrum)
This compact fruiting shrub produces clusters of translucent red berries perfect for fresh eating and preserves. Growing 3-6 feet tall, red currants offer ornamental value and edible harvests.
Easy to maintain and disease-resistant, these shrubs produce best in cool climates with morning sun and afternoon shade. The berries ripen in mid-summer and are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants.
3. Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
Native to eastern woodlands, red chokeberry offers year-round interest with white spring flowers, summer berries, and brilliant autumn foliage. This adaptable shrub tolerates various soil conditions and grows 6-10 feet tall.
The bright red berries persist into winter unless eaten by birds, making it an excellent choice for wildlife gardens. Though astringent when raw, the berries make excellent jams and are high in antioxidants.
4. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
Low-growing cotoneaster varieties create excellent ground cover with their spreading habit and abundant red berries. The small glossy leaves provide an attractive backdrop for the bright fruit display.
Perfect for slopes and rock gardens, these hardy shrubs require minimal care once established. Most varieties stay under 2 feet tall but spread 4-6 feet wide.
5. Holly (Ilex spp.)
Classic holly shrubs combine glossy evergreen leaves with bright red berries for traditional winter appeal. These dense shrubs make excellent privacy screens and foundation plantings.
Most varieties grow slowly but steadily to 6-15 feet tall, depending on the cultivar. Remember that a male holly must be nearby for the female trees to be pollinated and produce berries.
6. Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
This compact shrub features arching branches adorned with small, bright red berries that persist through winter. The burgundy-leafed varieties offer additional color interest throughout the growing season.
Note that while beautiful, this plant is considered invasive in some regions, so check local regulations. Growing 2-4 feet tall, it’s deer-resistant and tolerates various soil conditions.
7. Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
This native shrub produces bright red berry clusters in early summer, following showy white spring flowers. Growing 6-12 feet tall, it provides excellent wildlife value and traditional medicinal uses.
The berries must be cooked before consumption and are often used in jellies and wines. This fast-growing shrub prefers moist, rich soil and partial shade.
8. Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum)
This superfood producer combines ornamental value with edible berries high in antioxidants. The bright red berries appear throughout summer and fall on long, flexible branches.
Growing 4-7 feet tall, goji berries are hardy and drought-tolerant once established. They prefer full sun and well-draining soil for optimal fruit production.
9. Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa)
These tough rose shrubs produce large, bright red rose hips that persist well into winter. The shrubs feature fragrant flowers throughout summer, followed by the decorative fruits.
Growing 4-6 feet tall, rugosa roses tolerate salt spray and poor soils, making them excellent choices for coastal gardens. The rose hips are rich in vitamin C and popular for teas and preserves.
10. Red Tatarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)
This hardy shrub produces paired red berries following fragrant spring flowers. The berries appear in mid-summer and create a striking contrast against the blue-green foliage.
Growing 8-12 feet tall, this vigorous shrub adapts well to urban conditions. While beautiful, check local regulations as it can be invasive in some areas.
11. American Cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum)
Not a cranberry, this native viburnum produces clusters of bright red berries that resemble cranberries. The fruits persist through winter unless eaten by birds.
The shrub grows 8-12 feet tall and offers excellent fall color in addition to its berries. It’s particularly valuable for wildlife and can be used in natural hedgerows.
12. Scarlet Elder (Sambucus pubens)
Like red elderberry but with more compact growth, this shrub produces brilliant scarlet berries in early summer. The bright fruit follows clusters of creamy white flowers.
Growing 6-8 feet tall, scarlet elder prefers cool, moist conditions and partial shade. The berries are particularly attractive to songbirds and small mammals.
13. Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
Though typically grown as a small tree, pruning can maintain it as a large shrub. The bright red berries appear in fall and persist through winter.
Growing 15-20 feet if left unpruned, this native plant offers excellent wildlife value. The thorny branches provide protected nesting sites while the berries feed winter birds.
14. Red Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)
This unusual shrub produces deep burgundy-red berries in pendant chains, creating a dramatic effect. The berries follow purple-bracted white flowers that appear throughout summer.
This exotic-looking shrub grows 6-8 feet tall and prefers partial shade and moist soil. Despite being quite hardy, it adds a tropical feel to gardens.
15. Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)
This compact evergreen shrub produces bright red berries that contrast beautifully with dark green foliage. Like holly, it requires both male and female plants for berry production.
Growing 3-4 feet tall, skimmia thrives in shade and makes an excellent foundation plant. The berries and foliage are particularly valuable for winter interest.
16. Red Snowberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
This relative of honeysuckle is a native shrub that produces clusters of red berries persisting well into winter.
Growing 3-6 feet tall, red snowberry tolerates poor soil and partial shade. It’s excellent for mass plantings and informal hedges, providing year-round interest.
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.