Shrubs for Birds: Chokeberry, Beautyberry and Viburnum

Give the birds what they need, and add color and structure to your garden, with shrubs. Our For the Birds Collection includes the Early Amethyst Japanese Beautyberry, the Brilliantissima Chokeberry and the Summer Snowflake Viburnum. All three varieties provide gorgeous flowers in the spring or early summer, and all produce berries that birds can feast on in the fall and winter. The Early Amethyst Japanese Beautyberry has small lavender-pink flowers that open in early summer and are followed by brilliant, bubblegum purple berries that birds love. Grows 3-4′ tall with a 4-5′ spread. A native to the eastern part of North America, the Brilliantissima Chokeberry produces clusters of white to light pink flowers in spring. They’re followed by dense clusters of glossy, red fruits. The chokeberry’s foliage turns bright red in the fall. Grows 6-8′ tall with a 3-4′ spread. The upright Summer Snowflake Viburnum bears loads of white lacecap-type blooms starting in mid spring and continuing throughout the summer season. The red fruit matures to black. This native shrub grows 3-5′ tall with a similar spread.Botanical Name:Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’, Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’, Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Early Amethyst’
Form:Shrub
Sun Exposure:Full Sun, Partial Shade
Height/Habit:36 – 96 inches
Spread:36 – 60 inches
Spacing:36 – 60 inches
Hardiness Zone:5-8
Flowering Date:Mid spring to fall
Planting Instructions:Dig a hole twice the size of the plants’ root ball. Score a vertical mark on each of the four sides of the root ball. Set the plant in the hole with the crown just below soil level. Fill in and firm soil around the roots, watering thoroughly as you fill the hole.
Winter Care:None special
Shipped:DORMANT 4″ POT
Growth Rate:Moderate
Shipping Season:Spring
Flower Color:Mixed
Flower Form:Small single flower clusters arranged in dome-shaped cymes.
Foliage Type:Leaves begin green and turn shades of maroon and golden yellow in fall.
Pruning:Do any pruning after flowering. Take care not to prune too heavily or fruit production will be reduced.
Soil Requirement:Average well drained soil. Does not tolerate chalky or alkaline soils.
Restricted States:AE AK GU HI PR