Woody plants with added value: flowers, fruits and autumn colours

If you want something from your trees all year round, you should choose plants that can do more than simply flower. Whether it’s the splendor of flowers in spring, bright fruits in summer and autumn or colorful leaves in autumn, the right shrubs and trees offer you variety all year round and are a real eye-catcher in the garden. We present to you 9 large trees that will bring you joy all year round!

1. Copper rock pear (Amelanchier lamarckii)

The wild pear is an all-rounder in the garden and is one of the most versatile ornamental trees. In spring it is adorned with a lush display of white flowers that envelop the branches like a veil. In summer it produces small, dark purple berries that not only look beautiful, but are also edible – a real highlight in the orchard! In autumn the wild pear impresses with its intense orange to red foliage colour.

Wild pears are hardy, frost-resistant and undemanding, making them perfect trees for natural, low-maintenance gardens. Their slender growth habit also makes them suitable for smaller gardens or front gardens. They are also extremely valuable to wildlife, as the berries provide a valuable food source for birds.

Usage:

• Solitary in the garden
• hedge of flowers
• Bird protection tree

Garden Styles:

• Rural garden
• Natural garden
• Rural garden
• Modern garden

Position: Partial shade

Treatment: Pruning is rarely necessary as the wild pear naturally has a beautiful habit.

2. Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

Aronia, also known as aronia berry, is not only decorative, but also a real vitamin bomb. In spring, dense white flowers appear and attract insects. At the end of summer, black berries follow, rich in antioxidants and ideal for preparing juices or jellies. Autumn leaves shine in rich red and purple hues and provide another visual highlight.

The aronia is undemanding and thrives even on nutrient-poor soil. It is hardy against frost and drought, making it an ideal tree for natural gardens. Since the berries are edible, they are perfect as a garden crop.

Usage:

• fruit tree
• Natural hedge
• Flower and fruit decorations in the front garden

Garden Styles:

• Nutzgarten
• Natural garden
• Rural garden
• Modern garden

Position: Sunny to partially shaded

Treatment: Undemanding and easy to maintain, occasional pruning to correct the shape.

3. Roter Hartriegel ‘Midwinter Fire’ (Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’)

This extraordinary dogwood is a real highlight in winter: the shoots shine in spectacular colors from yellow to orange to red and bring color to the garden even in the gray season. In spring and summer it has fresh green leaves and displays small white flowers that then ripen into black berries, a welcome source of food for birds.

‘Midwinter Fire’ is extremely hardy and undemanding, thrives in almost all soils and tolerates both sun and partial shade well. It looks especially beautiful as a solitary plant in the front garden or planted in groups for an eye-catching winter accent.

Usage:

• Color highlighting in the winter garden
• Solitary in the front garden
• Hedge plant with a special character

Garden Styles:

• Modern garden
• Natural garden
• Winter garden
• Front yard

Position: Sunny to partially shaded

Treatment: Vigorous spring pruning favors the intense colors of the new shoots.

4. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

The elderberry is a real all-rounder in the garden. In spring, umbels of white, fragrant flowers appear, providing abundant nectar for bees. The black berries ripen in late summer and can be made into syrup or jelly, but are also popular as bird food. And in autumn the foliage shines in warm yellow tones.

Elderberry is extremely hardy and adaptable, growing in both sunny and partially shaded locations and can cope with almost any soil. The edible berries (after heating) have many uses and the plant is a valuable bird protection tree. For a particularly rich harvest we recommend the Haschberg elderberry with particularly large and aromatic fruits.

Usage:

• Natural hedge
• Bird protection tree
• Nutzgeholz

Garden Styles:

• Rural garden
• Natural garden
• Nutzgarten
• Rural garden

Position: Sunny to partially shaded

Treatment: In winter it is possible to make a thinning cut.

5. Pfaffenhütchen (Euonymus europaeus)

In autumn the Pfaffenhütchen is a real eye-catcher! Inconspicuous during the growing season, it boasts bright red fruit and orange seeds in autumn. The bright autumn colors make the shrub a real eye-catcher in every hedge.

The Pfaffenhütchen is easy to care for and robust, grows in both sunny and partially shaded locations and does not place high demands on the soil. It is particularly appreciated in natural gardens as its showy fruits are a valuable source of food for birds. Otherwise the Pfaffenhütchen is poisonous to people and animals.

Usage:

• hedge of flowers
• Wildgeholz
• Bird protection tree

Garden Styles:

• Natural garden
• Wild garden
• Rural garden
• Romantic garden

Position: Sunny to partially shaded Treatment: Tolerates occasional, but rarely necessary, pruning.

6. Wild rose (from Rosa rugosa)

Wild roses not only bring color to the garden in summer, they also have a lot to offer in autumn. In June and July they enchant with intense pink flowers that give off a wonderful scent and attract bees and butterflies. After flowering, the characteristic rose hips develop, which light up bright red in autumn. Not only are they decorative, but they are also an important source of food for birds.

Wild roses are extremely hardy and easy to care for, thrive in both sunny and partially shaded locations and are not very demanding. Occasional pruning after flowering keeps plants compact and encourages flower production next year.

Usage:

• Natural hedge
• Bird protection tree
• Wild garden

Garden Styles:

• Natural garden
• Rural garden
• Wild garden
• Romantic garden

Position: Sunny to partially shaded

Treatment: Pruning after flowering promotes flower abundance and keeps the plant in shape.

7. Schneeball (Viburnum opulus)

The common viburnum is a real gem in the garden and puts on an impressive display all year round. In spring, white, spherical inflorescences adorn the branches, brightening up the garden from June to July. In autumn, bright red berries form which are not only decorative but also attract birds. In addition, the foliage turns intensely from red to purple and provides additional color accentuation.

The snowball prefers sunny or semi-shaded positions and attracts attention both as a solitary plant and in a group. Due to its ecological value it is particularly appreciated in natural gardens and for the protection of birds. The variety of Easter snowballs is also a real highlight.

Usage:

• hedge of flowers
• Bird protection tree
• Solitary in the garden

Garden Styles:

• Natural garden
• Rural garden
• Romantic garden
• Flower garden

Position: semi-shaded

Treatment: Pruning after flowering promotes the formation of new inflorescences.

8. Blutpflaume (Prunus cerasifera ‘Black’)

The blood plum is a real pop of color in the garden. Already in early spring it is adorned with lush pink flowers, which in combination with the dark red foliage look particularly rich in contrast. In summer, small dark red to purple fruits are formed, which are edible even for humans when fully ripe (the seeds should not be eaten!). In autumn the blood plum increases again and presents itself in intense red and bronze tones.

The red plum is ideal as a solitary tree, which stands out from other plants with its striking foliage color. It is relatively undemanding and grows in both full sun and partial shade.

Usage:

• Solitary in the front garden
• Contrast of colors in the bed
• ornamental tree

Garden Styles:

• Japanese garden
• Flower garden
• Front yard
• Romantic garden

Position: Sunny to partially shaded Treatment: Winter pruning promotes bushy growth.

9. Weißdorn (Crataegus monogyna)

The hawthorn is a traditional tree in the home garden and impresses with its versatility. In spring it shows a dense flowering with white, slightly scented flowers, which magically attract insects. In autumn the red berries shine and are a welcome source of food for birds. At the same time, the foliage turns from golden yellow to orange-red tones.

The hawthorn is ideal as a hedge or solitary plant and offers great added value not only from an aesthetic point of view but also from an ecological point of view. It is easy to care for and can tolerate heavy pruning.

Usage:

• hedge of flowers
• Bird protection tree
• Lonely in the cottage garden

Garden Styles:

• Modern garden
• Romantic garden
• Japanese garden
• Flower garden

Position: Sunny

Treatment: Pruning after flowering ensures dense growth and promotes flower formation.

Conclusion

With these nine trees you will not only bring beautiful flowers to your garden, but also bright autumn colors and decorative fruit decorations. Whether a hedge for privacy, a solitary plant or a tree for bird protection, the variety of these shrubs and trees provide visual attractions all year round and also provide valuable habitats for birds and insects. Here’s how to expertly combine natural and ornamental gardens!

Happy gardening! 🙂