Bright, colorful orange berries bursting from the branches of small trees can be a stunning addition to any landscape. The pops of vibrant color provide eye-catching contrast against green foliage or drab winter backdrops. Plus, orange berries signal that fruit and seeds are ready for hungry wildlife to enjoy.
If you’re looking to add a small tree with attractive orange berries to your yard there are several excellent options to consider. Read on to learn more about the best small trees that produce ornamental orange berries.
Mountain Ash
One of the most popular and familiar small trees with orange berries is the mountain ash, also known as the rowan tree. This hardy, low-maintenance tree grows 15-20 feet tall and wide, with a rounded form featuring delicate, fern-like leaves.
The big draw of the mountain ash is its enormous clusters of bright orange-red berries that blanket the branches in late summer and fall. Each berry has a little five-pointed star on the bottom, adding to their allure. Birds flock to feast on the berries, which are mildly bitter to humans.
There are several varieties of mountain ash to choose from, including European mountain ash which has the brightest orange berries, American mountain ash, and weeping mountain ash with gracefully cascading branches. Mountain ash thrives in full sun or partial shade and adapts readily to most soil types.
Chokecherry
For a small understory tree that produces edible orange berries, look no further than the chokecherry. This multi-stemmed tree grows slowly to a mature height and width of 15-20 feet.
The chokecherry puts on a stunning display of conical clusters of tiny white blossoms in spring, followed by abundant crops of glossy orange-red berries in late summer. The tart berries can be eaten fresh, dried, or made into jams and jellies. Chokecherries are also important food sources for birds and small mammals.
Chokecherries grow best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. They naturally occur as understory trees in woodlands and along forest edges. Chokecherry varieties include Canada red cherry with deeper red fruit and shubert chokecherry which is more upright and compact.
Pyracantha
Choose a pyracantha variety for a hardy shrub with bright orange fruit. These thorny evergreen shrubs grow 6-12 feet tall and wide. They bloom with showy white flowers in late spring, followed by huge clusters of orange or red berries that stay on the plant all summer.
Pyracantha is a great plant for hedges, screens, and foundation plantings because it has beautiful flowers and berries that stand out. They’re also workhorse shrubs for deterring trespassers. Birds love the berries, but people find them bitter and slightly poisonous when eaten raw.
Some top pyracantha varieties for prolifically producing orange berries include Soleil d’Or with bright orange fruit and pyracantha Navajo with darker orange-red berries. Provide pyracanthas with full sun and well-drained soil
Coral Beauty Berry Bush
Coral beautyberry has beautiful warm-toned berries on a compact shrub. This medium-sized shrub grows to be 3–4 feet tall and wide when fully grown. Its soft green leaves make the vivid orange berries stand out, creating a show of color from midsummer to fall.
Coral beautyberry favors part to full sun and consistently moist, fertile soil. Regular pruning will help maintain its dense, rounded form. The long-lasting berries are especially prized for flower arrangements and holiday decor. Birds also find them highly appealing.
Holly
Evergreen hollies are classic ornamental shrubs prized for their glossy foliage and abundance of red, orange, or yellow berries. While the brightly colored berries last through winter, they aren’t edible for humans. But they provide essential food for birds when other sources are scarce.
Blue girl holly, golden girl holly, and orange fire holly are some of the best hollies for berries that are orange or orange-red. Most hollies do best in moist, acidic soil that drains well and gets full sun to partial shade. They look great as foundation plants, hedges, single plants, and mixed borders.
Persimmon
While they don’t produce true berries, persimmon trees have round, orange fruits that function similarly to berries as important sources of food for wildlife. These lovely small trees grow 20-40 feet high and wide, with a shapely oval to rounded form.
The smooth gray bark on persimmon trees adds unique winter interest. In fall, glossy orange persimmon fruits dangle ornamentally from the bare branches. Varieties like American persimmon yield sweet, edible fruits after a frost, while Oriental persimmons are more reliably edible when still firm. Provide persimmons with full sun and well-drained soil.
Coral Honeysuckle
This perennial vine can be maintained and pruned as a large shrub up to 6 feet tall. It produces vibrant red-orange berry-like fruits that birds adore. The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Coral honeysuckle thrives in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. It’s perfect for trellises, arbors, and nestled among larger shrubs.
Dogwood
While technically considered drupes, the clustered red fruits of dogwood shrubs provide the visual effect of bright berries. Varieties like red twig dogwood, gray dogwood, and silky dogwood offer multiseason interest with showy fruits, colorful stems, and fall color. Most dogwoods grow in the 8-15 foot range. They thrive in full sun or partial shade with evenly moist soil.
Nandina
The heavenly bamboo nandina produces clusters of bright red berries beloved by birds. Varieties like harbor dwarf nandina and firepower nandina remain under 3 feet tall. The lacy green foliage turns red or purplish in fall. Nandinas grow well in sun to part shade and tolerate a range of soil types. They work beautifully in mixed beds and borders.
Summary of the Best Small Trees and Shrubs with Orange Berries
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Mountain ash – Gorgeous fall color and enormous clusters of orange-red berries. Grows 15-20 feet tall.
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Chokecherry – Edible orange berries in summer on a small understory tree. Grows 15-20 feet tall.
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Pyracantha – Prolific bright orange or red berries on thorny evergreen shrubs up to 12 feet tall.
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Coral beautyberry – Compact shrub with vivid orange berries from summer into fall. Grows to 3-4 feet tall.
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Holly – Classic shrubs with glossy foliage and orange or red berries lasting into winter. Varied sizes.
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Persimmon – Ornamental orange, berry-like fruits on small deciduous trees. Grows 20-40 feet tall.
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Coral honeysuckle – Bright orange fruits on a perennial vine that can be pruned into a large shrub.
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Dogwood – Shrubs with clustered red fruits. Multiseason appeal. Grows 8-15 feet tall.
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Nandina – Graceful shrubs with lacy foliage and bright red berries. Under 3 feet tall.
The vibrant splash of orange berries on these small trees and shrubs provides outstanding aesthetic appeal in any garden. Plus, the fruits nourish desirable wildlife to help maintain ecological balance and diversity. With this list of top recommendations, you’re sure to find the perfect small orange berry plant to enhance your landscape.
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FAQ
What tree has tiny orange berries?
American mountain ash trees, which are also called rowan trees, are popular garden ornaments and are often used as street trees. In the spring and summer months they produce showy white flowers followed in the fall by orange berries that feed several species of birds and small mammals.
What invasive tree has orange berries?
Celastrus orbiculatus – With yellow capsules that eventually reveal orange berries, it is commonly used as a decoration during the holidays.
Can I eat dogberries?
They are edible to humans but should not be eaten fresh as they are very bitter, rich in tanin and not very tasty.
What tree has bunches of orange berries?
The most distinguishable aspect of a Mountain Ash tree is the massive clusters of bright orange berries which adorn the foliage through spring, summer, and fall. These showy orange berries are quickly noticed as they clash brightly against the tiny dark green leaves of the Mountain Ash tree.