BERRY COLOURFUL

Once the leaves have fallen and much of the garden has been reduced to shades of grey and brown, jewel-bright berries are a spirit-lifting sight as they glow through the gloom and attract the attention of wildlife and gardeners alike.

Grow berry-bearing shrubs and trees in large pots or plant l directly into the ground near a wall or fence so that you have something to train the branches along. Position so you can easily see the berries from your window for a deep-winter treat.

Birds and other small animals will also love the fruit, feeding l on the vitamin and energy rich pith that surrounds the seed.

Some fruit disappears as soon as it ripens, particularly any l with softer berries, including clerodendrum, callicarpa and euonymus, while others such as cotoneaster, rose and pyracantha need frosts to soften and sweeten their fruit before they become palatable to wildlife.

Evergreen shrubs and trees generally bear red fruit that l stands out clearly against the foliage. Red is most attractive to birds, so these berries are often (but not always) the first to disappear. For a continuing, winter-long show, include a range of berry-bearing shrubs and trees, and choose those in a variety of colours – all will be eaten eventually, but you’ll get to enjoy the sight of them for a bit longer. And at this time of year, it’s a joy to bring branches indoors to add a hit of natural colour to the festive sparkle.