Berry Shrubs

History

• Holly bushes are perhaps one of the most historic varieties. They were used by Druids in England and Ireland as ornamental head dresses when entering the wooded lands. Hollies have also been used in Christmas decorations through the years as a bountiful and happy presentation plant.

Identification

• The holly bush is a dark green plant that has small, nickel-sized red berries. The leaves are pointed in a teardrop formation. The hawthorn bush has thick limbs sparsely covered with yellowish-green, slender leaves. When it blooms, the hawthorn has bright white flowers with five, open-faced petals.The elderberry bush has large green leaves and dark blue berries. The berries are about the same size as blueberries and have a thick skin.

Time Frame

• Elderberry is a fast grower, reaching heights of 8 to 10 feet within two to three years. Holly bushes grow at a medium rate and will, over several years, reach heights of 10 to 15 feet. Berry shrubs produce foliage and bloom in early spring, giving way to berries in the summer and fall. The shrubs lose their leaves in late fall and stand as a decorative structure in the winter.

Size

• Cotoneaster is one of the larger berry shrubs, spreading to a mature size of 15 by 15 feet. The large berries are close to the size of a quarter and the leaves are 3 to 4 inches long. The pyracantha bush grows up to 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide. The white flowers that appear in the spring are 2 inches wide and produce 1/4-inch berries in the fall.

Geography

• Viburnum, also referred to as the cranberry bush, is native to zones 2 through 7. This area can reach as far north as parts of Canada and Alaska. Zone 7 stretches across northern Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and in central Texas. Pyracantha is suited for zones 5 through 9. This is the region spanning northern parts of the Midwest to the bottom tip of Texas and most of California.