Deciduous Berry Trees

White Mulberry

• White mulberry (Morus alba) is one of the few deciduous trees that produces berries safe for human consumption. Mulberries are used for making wine or eaten fresh when they ripen in the summer, but the flavor varies widely between varieties. These 30- to 50-foot trees can survive winters up to USDA Hardiness Zone 5 without problem.

Downy Serviceberry

• Often overlooked as an ornamental planting, downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) tolerates a wide range of growing conditions. Plant this small tree in sun to partial shade and well-draining soil of almost any type, and watch the small white pompom flowers erupt in spring. Blue-black berries mature in late summer or early fall, providing wildlife in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9 with food until winter.

Flowering Dogwood

• Few trees are as iconic as the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). These gnarly 15- to 25-foot trees stand out in the landscape like sculpture. Not only do they produce red berries in fall, in spring flowering dogwood sports distinctive 4-inch white flowers. Hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9, flowering dogwoods thrive in well-drained soils in partial shade.

Mountain Ash

• Among the hardiest deciduous trees, mountain ash (Sorbus decora) flourish as far north as USDA Hardiness Zone 2. These trees are very sensitive to environmental pressures, such as pollution, but will tolerate seasonal flooding and a wide range of soil types. Mountain ash is a native species with a showy flower, but it is better known for its fiery orange-red berries that remain attached to the tree until they are devoured by birds.