Native Coral Berry Shrub for Challenging Sites

Often overlooked due to its more relaxed habit, the native coralberry provides lots of value to pollinators and birds.

It’s native to shaded woods, thickets and streambanks in eastern North America, from Mexico to New England and the Great Lakes.

This low-growing shrub forms thickets of arching branches 2 to 5 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. Its growth habit is well suited to slopes and areas in need of erosion control.

Coralberry adapts to partial sun and shade, moist to dry loamy or rocky soils.

Yellowish white flowers tinged with pink appear in early- to mid-summer. These are followed by purplish red fruit that matures in fall and persists into winter.

A variety of native bees and butterflies are attracted to the nectar rich flowers. And you’ll find songbirds dining on the colorful berries in winter.

A bit more information: Powdery mildew may be a problem in crowded plantings growing in the shade. Prune plants in early spring to encourage more flowers, reduce the height, and control the spread of this suckering plant.