A striking shrub for moist soils! Berries are bright red and often remain on bushes through fall and into winter. Forms upright, multi stemmed bushes with bright fall color. Berries are edible but uncommonly eaten by humans. These bushes have an “airy” form, making them excellent at adding structure to a planting without shading out other plants, but not suitable for a visual barrier. Will sucker to form a small thicket if allowed.

Pollination: Self pollinating.

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture: Wet, Wet Mesic

Soil Type: Loam, Humus, Peat

Height: 6’-10’ 

Width: 3’-4’

Bloom Color: White, Pink

Bloom Time: April

Fruit: Bright red berries mature in late summer.

Fall Color: Orange, Red

Root Type: Fibrous

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers are visited by beetles and likely small bees. Hosts a few small insects. Berries provide good winter food for birds including cedar waxwings, thrushes, bobwhite, chickadee, thrushes, and bluebirds.

Notes: Emphasis on the wet soils for this one, and can grow on water edges. Light suckering habit, but doesn’t generally cause problems. Berries are not often harvested, but purportedly make a good tart jam.