Shrubs with black berries are a striking addition to any garden, offering both aesthetic appeal and functional benefits. Their dark, often glossy berries provide a stark and elegant contrast against the green of summer, the gold of autumn, or the starkness of winter landscapes. This visual impact makes them particularly valuable for creating focal points or adding depth to garden designs, where the black berries serve as a dramatic element against lighter backgrounds.
The black berries are a significant food source for birds during the colder months, when other food options dwindle. This not only helps sustain bird populations through winter but also encourages biodiversity by attracting a variety of species to the garden. The presence of these shrubs can turn a garden into a vibrant hub of activity, enhancing the natural beauty and interactive experience of gardening.
Many of these shrubs are hardy, capable of thriving in a range of climates and soil types, making them suitable for both formal and informal garden settings. They can be used in hedges, as standalone specimens, or in mixed borders, where their berries add winter interest while their foliage might offer spring blooms or autumn color, contributing to a garden’s year-round appeal. This multi-seasonal charm, combined with their ecological benefits, makes black-berried shrubs a wise choice for any gardener looking to enrich their landscape.
Shrubs With Black Berries
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Native to the eastern United States, the Black Chokeberry is celebrated for its clusters of small, glossy black berries that appear in late summer. These berries are not only visually appealing but are also packed with antioxidants, making them popular for health-conscious gardeners looking for both ornamental and edible plants.
Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
Widespread in Europe, this shrub is renowned for its large clusters of black berries, which follow its fragrant, white flowers in summer. Elderberries are used in culinary applications like jams, syrups, and wines, and are also known for their immune-boosting properties. The plant’s dark foliage in some varieties adds to its ornamental value.
Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)
This shrub, originating from Northern Europe, produces small, jet-black berries that are tart and full of vitamin C. Blackcurrants are commonly used in jams, juices, and desserts. The plant itself is hardy, thriving in cooler climates, making it a staple in many home gardens.
Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium)
A native of North America, Black Haw is valued for its clusters of dark blue-black berries that ripen in the fall. These berries are a significant food source for birds. The shrub’s fall foliage, which turns a beautiful array of colors, adds to its appeal in landscape settings.
Black Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana ‘Black Beauty’)
While beautyberries are more commonly known for purple fruits, this cultivar produces black berries. This deciduous shrub from the southeastern U.S. offers a unique contrast with its arching branches full of black berries, which are less common and very ornamental.
Black Aronia (Aronia x prunifolia)
A hybrid of chokeberries, this shrub bears large, glossy black berries in the fall. It’s praised for its hardiness and the berries’ high antioxidant content, which can be used in a variety of health foods and drinks. The plant also provides vibrant fall colors, enhancing garden landscapes.
Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata)
Found in eastern North America, this shrub produces sweet, black berries that are a favorite among foragers and wildlife alike. The plant is not only valued for its fruit but also for its role in natural landscaping, where it supports local ecosystems.
Black-Fruited Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea var. edulis)
Known as Haskap or Honeyberry in some regions, this shrub from Japan, Russia, and parts of Canada produces elongated, sweet-tart black berries. The berries have become popular for their nutritional profile and unique flavor, suitable for both fresh eating and processing into various products.
Black-Fruited Viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum ‘Cardinal Candy’)
This cultivar of the Linden Viburnum produces clusters of shiny, black berries that are preceded by bright red fruits, offering a dynamic color transition. It’s particularly valued for its wildlife appeal, as the berries are a significant food source for birds in late fall and winter.
Black-Fruited Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis ‘Black Lace’)
While previously noted for its purple foliage, ‘Black Lace’ also produces large clusters of black berries. This North American native is ornamental due to its lacy, almost black leaves and provides edible berries that are rich in antioxidants.
Black Beauty Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Black Beauty’)
Another variety of elderberry, this one stands out with its deeply colored purple-black foliage and clusters of black berries. It’s a striking plant for both its visual impact and the utility of its berries in culinary uses.
Black-Fruited Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ‘Canada Red’)
Known for its leaves that turn a brilliant red in the fall, this chokecherry also yields clusters of black cherries. These berries are tart but can be used in jams or for making syrups, supporting both aesthetic and functional garden uses.
Black-Fruited Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
This species, also known as Gray Dogwood, produces small, black berries that are enjoyed by over 100 species of birds. It’s a hardy shrub that’s excellent for naturalizing or creating wildlife-friendly areas in the garden, with its white flowers in spring adding to its appeal.
Black-Fruited Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana ‘Black Knight’)
A variety of the American Beautyberry, ‘Black Knight’ offers a unique twist with its black berries instead of the usual purple. This shrub enhances landscapes with its fall display of berries and is less common, making it a collector’s item for enthusiasts.
Black-Fruited Hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii)
Native to the western U.S., this hawthorn’s small, black berries are a vital food source for wildlife. It’s also appreciated for its spring flowers and the dense, thorny growth habit that can be used for creating natural barriers or hedges.
Black-Fruited Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Also known as Saskatoon berry, this shrub produces sweet, black berries that are prized for eating fresh or in baking. It’s adaptable to various climates, offering ornamental value with its spring blossoms, summer foliage, and autumn berry display.
Black-Fruited Privet (Ligustrum lucidum)
This evergreen shrub from China and Japan produces small, black berries that ripen in late autumn. While Ligustrum species are often used for hedges due to their dense growth, the black berries add an additional layer of interest, although they are not typically consumed by humans due to their toxicity if eaten in large quantities.
Black-Fruited Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster melanocarpus)
Native to Western China, this species of cotoneaster bears small, glossy black berries on arching branches. It’s an excellent choice for ground cover or low-growing hedges, where the berries provide winter interest and food for birds.
Black-Fruited Holly (Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’)
Although known for its red berries in many cultivars, ‘Winter Gold’ produces black berries. This deciduous holly is a superb choice for winter gardens where the contrast of the black berries against the bare branches is particularly striking, and it supports wildlife.
Black-Fruited Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula ‘Columnaris’)
This cultivar of the common buckthorn has a more upright growth habit, making it suitable for narrower spaces or formal garden designs. It produces black berries, but caution is advised as this plant can become invasive in some regions, impacting local ecosystems.
Black-Fruited Skimmia (Skimmia japonica ‘Ebony and Ivory’)
A compact evergreen from Japan, this skimmia variety has male plants with fragrant flowers and female plants that produce clusters of black berries in the fall, provided there’s a male for pollination nearby. It’s perfect for small gardens or containers, adding year-round interest.
Black-Fruited Viburnum (Viburnum opulus ‘Xanthocarpum’)
While mentioned for its white berries in another context, this cultivar sometimes produces berries that darken to black as they mature, offering a unique display. It’s appreciated for its lacecap flowers and fall foliage as well.
Black-Fruited Juniper (Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’)
This dwarf, columnar juniper produces small, black berries (actually cones) that are used as a spice, notably in gin production. Its compact size and berries make it an excellent choice for rock gardens or as a specimen plant in smaller landscapes.
Black-Fruited Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus ‘Black Beauty’)
A rare cultivar of the snowberry, ‘Black Beauty’ has the unusual trait of producing black berries rather than the typical white. This shrub adds an unexpected twist to the garden, providing both ornamental berries and support for local fauna.
Black-Fruited Arbutus (Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta’):
Commonly known as Strawberry Tree, this Mediterranean native’s ‘Compacta’ variety produces small, black berries in tandem with new flowers in autumn. The berries are edible when fully ripe, offering a sweet taste, and the shrub’s peeling bark adds to its ornamental value.
Black-Fruited Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia ‘Sheerwater Seedling’)
While Rowans typically have bright red berries, this cultivar can produce berries that darken to almost black as they mature. It’s valued for its autumn foliage and the additional winter interest from its berries, which are also a food source for birds.
Black-Fruited Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
Known as Black Raspberry, this native North American shrub produces sweet, black berries that are slightly different from blackberries. It’s not only used for its delicious fruit but also for its ornamental appeal, with its arching canes and white flowers.
Black-Fruited Callicarpa (Callicarpa kwangtungensis ‘Black Pearl’)
- A lesser-known beautyberry from China, this variety produces small, black berries that are less common than the purple ones. It’s an attractive shrub for gardens looking for something unique, with its berries providing a contrast against the foliage.
Black-Fruited Elder (Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’)
This cultivar has golden foliage, providing a striking backdrop for its clusters of black berries. It’s a hardy plant that adds color and interest to gardens, both with its leaves and its fruit, which can be used in culinary applications.
Black-Fruited Viburnum (Viburnum lentago)
Known as Nannyberry, this shrub from North America produces small, black berries that are edible and have been used traditionally in jams and pies. It’s also a fantastic wildlife plant, with its berries appealing to birds.
Black-Fruited Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium ‘Apollo’)
An evergreen shrub with holly-like leaves, this Mahonia variety produces clusters of black berries following its yellow flowers in spring. It’s excellent for shade gardens where it can provide both color and food for birds.
Black-Fruited Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’)
While famous for its double red flowers, this cultivar can also bear black berries as they ripen. It’s a versatile plant for garden design, offering spring blossoms, autumn berries, and the potential for wildlife support.
Black-Fruited Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Kesselringii’)
This variety of red-twig dogwood features dark purple to black stems in winter, with clusters of black berries in fall. It’s valued for its year-round interest, from its foliage to its stem color and berries, making it a staple in winter gardens.
Black-Fruited Symphoricarpos (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus ‘Foliis Variegatis’)
A variegated form of the Coralberry, this shrub produces black berries on arching branches. Its leaves provide additional ornamental value with their variegation, contrasting nicely with the berries.
Black-Fruited Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
Best known as Rock Cotoneaster, this species produces small, black berries set against its herringbone pattern of branches. It’s excellent for ground cover or rock gardens, where its berries add winter interest.
Black-Fruited Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis ‘Cumulus’)
This variety of serviceberry offers white flowers in spring, followed by black berries in summer. ‘Cumulus’ is noted for its upright growth habit and the berries’ sweet flavor, which are enjoyed by both humans and wildlife.
Black-Fruited Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Thundercloud’)
With deep purple-black foliage, ‘Thundercloud’ produces black berries that are rich in antioxidants. This cultivar is particularly ornamental, ideal for creating a dramatic effect in the garden while still offering the benefits of its berries.
Black-Fruited Beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’)
Although ‘Profusion’ is renowned for its purple berries, there are selections that can produce black berries. This shrub is appreciated for its fall display, where the berries stand out against the changing foliage.
Black-Fruited Viburnum (Viburnum nudum ‘Brandywine’)
A cultivar of the possumhaw viburnum, ‘Brandywine’ produces large clusters of black berries that are eye-catching in the fall. It’s valued for its glossy leaves, fragrant flowers, and the berries’ appeal to wildlife.
40. Black-Fruited Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’):
- Known as Hollywood Juniper, this shrub/tree produces small, black berries. It’s appreciated for its twisted, artistic shape and the berries add to its ornamental value, although they are not typically edible for humans.