10 award-winning shrubs for autumn berries

When autumn arrives, gardens and landscapes transform into a vivid tapestry of colours, with many plants revealing their most stunning features. Among these, certain shrubs stand out not just for their foliage, but for the vibrant and long-lasting berries they produce, often persisting well into the winter months. Take a look at these RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit plants we’ve highlighted here and select a few for your garden.

A profusion of violet

Its leaves are purplish when young, turning rosy-pink in autumn

Callicarpabodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’ is a shrub that captures our attention for the unusual violet colour of its berries, which is perhaps why birds only turn their attention to it late in the season. ‘Profusion’ also has lilac flowers in late summer and bronzed spring foliage – which colours again in autumn. Easy in sun or partial shade. 2m (6ft 6in). Hardiness rating H5.

Small like a pea

White flowers are borne in green calyces, which turn crimson as the turquoise berries mature

Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargesii is one of the most startling of autumn fruiting shrubs, and unique in its colouring. The pea-sized bright blue berries are backed by pinkish magenta lobes. Bears highly scented white flowers in summer. Happy in most soils in a little shade, or in sun with adequate moisture. 2.5m (8ft). Hardiness rating H4.

Clusters of red fruits

White summer flowers in clusters are followed by heavy trusses of large, bright red berries

Many cotoneasters carry a generous crop of red berries but few are as dependable and as tough as this one. Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’ is quite a large cultivar

Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.

, with fruits which are carried in such huge clusters that they weigh down the branches. Partially evergreen, so the foliage makes an attractive background to the fruits without hiding them. 3m (10ft). Hardiness rating H6.

The scarlet spindle

This deciduous shrub’s fruits open to reveal orange seeds

This colourful selection of our native

A native plant is one that originated or arrived naturally in a particular place without human involvement. In the British Isles, native plants are those that were here during the last ice age or have arrived unaided since.

spindle has two special features. Firstly, its autumn leaf colour is spectacular, a vivid scarlet. Also, Euonymuseuropaeus ‘Red Cascade’ produces far more fruits than on the original wild type. Each fruit features a rosy red capsule which opens to reveal bright orange seeds. Happy on most soils, including chalk. 2.5m (8ft). Hardiness rating H5.

Self-fertile cultivar

‘Bell’s Seedling’ is an evergreen shrub forming a dense thicket, with dark green leaves

Long known as Pernettya, these acid-loving evergreens feature berries in a wide range of colours. Gaultheria mucronata ‘Bell’s Seedling’ not only has large dark red berries set against glossy dark green leaves – it’s also self-fertile, unlike most other cultivars, so it does not need a separate male plant for pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from a male anther to a female stigma, either within the same flower or between two different flowers. It’s usually followed by fertilisation and seed production. Some flowers are pollinated by insects or other small creatures, others are wind pollinated. It’s also possible to pollinate flowers by hand, if you want to breed new plants or ensure successful pollination when there are few natural pollinators.

. The berries last right through the winter. 90cm (3ft). Hardiness rating H6.

Sea spray’s lover

‘Leikora’ is a female cultivar producing abundant large fruit, with a high content of vitamin C

The sea buckthorn is a colourful British native shrub with deciduous

Deciduous refers to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) that lose their leaves seasonally, usually during autumn. This is a natural process triggered by the season's shorter days and lower temperatures and allows plants to conserve energy during the winter months.

silver leaves and orange berries through the winter. It’s very adaptable and tolerant of poor soil, exposure and sea spray. Hippophaerhamnoides ‘Leikora’bears generous crops of tasty berries which are packed with vitamins A, C and E. It prefers plenty of sun and needs a male plant for pollination. 3m (10ft). Hardiness rating H7.

Plants for coastal areas

A choice for smaller gardens

If you want a resistant plant for a small garden, Saphyr Rouge is what you are looking for

Pyracanthas can suffer from scab and canker so it’s important to choose resistant cultivars. Not only is Pyracantha Saphyr Rouge (‘Cadrou’) resistant to both diseases, but it’s more upright in growth and shorter than many and so fits well into smaller gardens. Pyracantha is also a favourite nesting shrub for birds. 2m (6ft6in). Hardiness rating H6.

Stunning crimson hips

Rose ‘Geranium’ often grows as a climber and is about 2.5m tall

So many roses feature colourful autumn and winter hips that making a choice is difficult.Rosa ‘Geranium’ has the rich, bright red flowers followed by larger than usual crimson hips, and is a little shorter than others of this type, fitting better into many gardens. Ideal at the back of a mixed border. 2.5m (8ft). Hardiness rating H7.

Gorgeous groundcover

This plant is a small spreading evergreen shrub with long-lasting ‘metallic’ blue-black berries

Viburnum davidiiis one of the best evergreen viburnums. Its low spreading habit makes ideal groundcover, and its large, dark green leaves are a good background for the clusters of small white flowers. But the glory comes with the gorgeous turquoise autumn berries; cross-pollination provides the most fruits, so always plant at least three. Happiest in sun, but not too dry. 80cm (2ft6in). Hardiness rating H5.

Viburnums for three season colour

Yellow-fruited rose

Viburnum opulus ‘Xanthocarpum’ grows well in damp soils in sun or a little shade

Viburnumopulus ‘Xanthocarpum’ is a spectacular form of our native guelder rose. In summer, the white lacecap flowers are set against maple-like foliage, followed in autumn by clusters of golden yellow, almost translucent berries that last well into the winter before finally feeding the birds. Grows well in damp soils in sun or a little shade. 2.5m (8ft). Hardiness rating H6.