When the temperature starts to drop, these shrubs show off their fruit. Cut a few branches to create a stunning berry bouquet - perhaps as a centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table!
Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst' (Beautyberry)
A relative of the native Callicarpa americana, 'Early Amethyst' Beautyberry produces an abundance of shockingly purple berries - and as the cultivar's name suggests, they show up a little earlier to the party.
Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold' (Winterberry)
OK, it's not called "Winterberry" not "Autumnberry" - but these deciduous hollies have been showing hints of their colorful fruit since early October (leaves tend to drop after a few good frosts). The berries are popular with birds, so grab a few branches now for indoor display before they're gone! The 'Winter Gold' cultivar boasts a distinctive light orange color that looks awesome when grouped with the purple Beautyberries.
Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo)
Nandina domestica is a common landscape shrub that grows in a variety of conditions and features semi-evergreen foliage and big clusters of bright red berries. Other more compact cultivars have been developed for their foliage, but it is the straight species of Heavenly Bamboo that produces the best berry display. The fruit of this non-native plant is bitter to local wildlife, and you'll be doing the birds a favor by removing the temptation of the bright red berries by clipping them off to display in your holiday arrangements.
Please note: these berries are not edible by humans or pets, as is the case with many plants commonly used for indoor arrangements (Baby's Breath, Chrysanthemum, Hydrangea, Tulips - to name a few). Please take care to avoid their consumption by cats, dogs, and children!