Re: Best Plants for Late Berries

Hi Everyone,

I can see from all those fabulous photos of waxwings that there are still loads of berried trees/shrubs around.

My rowan, cotoneaster and yew berries were demolished a few weeks ago by migrant members of the thrush family.

Any plant suggestions for increasing the time period for available berries would be appreciated.

Regards,

CM

Hello CM

Try a mix of holly, hawthorn, pyracantha and ivy. Adding these to your already good selection will increase the availability of berries throughout the winter.

There are many other shrubs and trees that also provide fruit and berries so if anyone else can suggest things that work well for them please suggest them, pictures might be useful as well!

Thanks IanH,

I intended to plant a hedge this autumn but now will have to leave that until around March/April, given the weather, and will include hawthorn and holly. 

I do have ivy, a variegated variety, but it never produces any flowers - wondering if this is a feature of this species?

CM

ClaireM

Hi Everyone,

I can see from all those fabulous photos of waxwings that there are still loads of berried trees/shrubs around.

My rowan, cotoneaster and yew berries were demolished a few weeks ago by migrant members of the thrush family.

Any plant suggestions for increasing the time period for available berries would be appreciated.

Regards,

CM

waxwings on their rd, what a sight, but when i looked on top of the snow, and watched the birds, they

were acting l;ike bullfinches and eating the buds off the trees, the bud cases were all over the snow.

best regards mac

That's interesting,Mac.  Lovely photos - lucky you.

Regards,

CM

ClaireM

I do have ivy, a variegated variety, but it never produces any flowers - wondering if this is a feature of this species?

The native hedera helix will produce a good crop of flowers and berries, the variegated variety and other cultivars are generally not as good.

 I have  also been wondering how the berries will last.   There are  many apples still on the ground (still being eaten by Fieldfares and Redwings) but they have also eaten all the Haws and Holly berries except those closest to the house. 

 There are plenty of Haws still lining the local A roads and so it looks as if they are not so hungry  to risk feeding where they don't feel safe.

My Guelder rose berries haven't been eaten so far (Usually Bullfinches have eaten them by now). A Song thrush was eating Rose hips yesterday.

Hi Ratty,  I have noticed today greenfinches feeding on some shrivelled hips from my rosa rugosa - C

ClaireM

Hi Ratty,  I have noticed today greenfinches feeding on some shrivelled hips from my rosa rugosa - C

 it just shows the weather is making the poor things get food where they can, survival. best regards mac

How about Crab Apple Trees. All the berries have gone from the garden but two of the Crab Apple trees still have fruit.  I cannot recomend these highly enough. Lovely blossom in the spring to attract the Bullfinch and fruits that last well into winter. The smaller birds eat the fruit whilst still on the tree, the bigger birds take the apples away to eat and the Blackbirds and Thrushes eat the fruit that falls to the ground.

I took these photos yesterday.

Cottagegardener

How about Crab Apple Trees. All the berries have gone from the garden but two of the Crab Apple trees still have fruit.  I cannot recomend these highly enough. Lovely blossom in the spring to attract the Bullfinch and fruits that last well into winter. The smaller birds eat the fruit whilst still on the tree, the bigger birds take the apples away to eat and the Blackbirds and Thrushes eat the fruit that falls to the ground.

I took these photos yesterday.

 

 

Rosehips are sweet at the moment !!! Just in case here is a link to the RSPB stuff on Berries in case anyone has missed it  RSPB Berries

WLR

Target for 2010 / 2011 250 kg Wild BIrd Food  Deployed in West Yorkshire   Nov -  Mar Helping our small birds over winter

Natural History Books

The crab apple variety Golden Hornet ia very prolific. I planted a sapling 18 months ago and the young tree was absolutely covered in yellow fruits in early autumn. It was stripped in a flash!  Perhaps one year I'll get some crab apple jelly!

Bagpuss

Very  good to know that the shriveled rose hips can still be 'food' and and so presumably can other shriveled berries.

  I have never noticed (in mild winters) just how long berries last.      I recall is that domestic apples and rose hips have usually rotted by January,  but Holly can last until spring.  Can vaguely recall one Christmas searching for a sprig if berries for a decoration and finding that Hawthorn and Pyracantha were not usable. Would be interested to know if the seeds of these rotten berries/hips etc are eaten by finches or anything!? and what do the Redwings and Fieldfares eat when the berrries have gone and the ground is frozen?

A picture of my frozen Guelder rose berries that have not yet tempted any birds!

Thanks for all the suggestions, the link, and photos. I would have replied sooner but have had broadband connection difficulties.

I think the finches were eating the seeds from the hips.

I had forgotten about crab apples and one or two trees will be on my list of new plants for the garden.

CM