Winter berries

Karenchilton2000

Hello

I'd really appreciate some suggestions please...

I'd like to plant a shrub/bush, ideally one which will grow to at least a metre high, if not more, and is easy to trim, evergreen and has lovely berries on in winter. 

I'm planning on putting in some pyracantha  but have been warned about the prickles.  So for the second patch of garden, I'd like to look at alternatives. 

Many thanks for any advice.

Karen

Buttercupdays

Some cotoneasters are evergreen and they all have a good display of berries. There are lots of varieties and they cross pollinate so hybrids are common but you should be able to find one you like. Leaf sizes vary, smaller leaves are easier to trim, but they are all very forgiving, you can just hack chunks off and they will still regrow, though less gracefully than if you take a more measured approach. C. horizontalis is only semi-evergreen but its intricate branches look lovely in winter and it can be grown against a wall unsupported or be used as ground cover. I have several different ones and I can find them in my garden at this time of year as they are buzzing with bees. I like them all, but they are prolific self seeders and I am forever pulling them up.

pansyface

Skimmia japonica “Pabella”.

Buttercupdays

Lots of shrubs have nice berries, but the birds like them as much as we do, so they don't last long

Euonymus europaeus, the spindle tree has fabulous berries and can be grown as a large shrub. Some Viburnums have good berries, worth having a look at, some red, some black, but check eventual size. V. bodnantese is a wonderful shrub but grows enormous!

Silver surfer

pansyface said:

Skimmia japonica “Pabella”.

Need a male Skimmia to keep  female Skimmia japonica Pabella company in order to get all those fab red berries.

JennyJ

A few more ideas here https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/articles/graham-rice/shrubs-and-climbers/10-agm-shrubs-for-autumn-berries Whatever you choose, time the pruning/trimming carefully or you could lose the berries.

Karenchilton2000

Great suggestions. Thank you!

I might try and put a cotoneaster at the back of the house, there is a wall there that needs some winter green to liven it up.

The V. bodnantese looks interesting. The idea of flowers throughout winter is appealing. The only photos I've found make it seem a little spindly - I'm guessing because the leaves aren't so prominent in growth?

Does anybody have any reasons that they would NOT grow pyracantha, please? I know it's prickly but it is going to be set a little way off from the pathway so that's likely only going to be a problem when it's trimmed.

Karenchilton2000

I'm erring towards the Skimmia japonica “Pabella” at the moment as an alternative. It looks like it grwos to the right size though perhaps a little slow growing?  Can it be easily shaped?