Join us on February 13th for an exploration of London's winter berries and fruits. From the steadfast seeds of ash trees to the vibrant berries of snowberry and Cotoneaster, uncover the hidden gems that add colour and life to the winter landscape. Learn about the unique characteristics of these fruits, their ecological significance, and where to find them in London's parks and gardens. Don't miss this fascinating journey through the winter bounty of berries and fruits!
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Berries and Fruits
Ash trees still stand out all over London, with their clusters of dark brown seeds which, having remained steadfast on the tree all winter and are now at last breaking up and falling to the ground. They used to be called spinners on account of the way they fall. There are also now significantly less seedpods visible on acacias, Indian bean and Judas trees. Some sycamore seeds may have started germinating even though many holly and laurel berries are still maturing. Now the less palatable berries are much more in evidence for they have survived in situations where birds have been unable, or reluctant to feed upon them. A great many more fruits are visible in February during mild winters, when birds have been able to find other alternative foods.
Berries on snowberry, Skimmia, Berberis, Pyracantha, butcher’s broom and Cotoneaster are all still to be seen, but in far less numbers. Some unpalatable rowan cultivars and tree cotoneasters seem to be completely untouched. Occasionally a leafless tree is encountered covered in white ‘pearl’ berries. This can be one of the most striking sights of the month. It is often a form of the Hupeh rowan Sorbus hupehensis if the berries are small and hard but likely to be some selection of S. forrestii if they are larger.
Hips and haws i.e. rosehips and hawthorn berries, have now largely disappeared into the hungry beaks of migrant birds. Climbers, like honeysuckle Lonicera
periclymenum and bittersweet Solanum dulcamara may still have their black and red berries respectively and common broom Sarathamnus scoparius its black pods. On the bare landscape of the North Downs the seeds of old man’s beard Clematis vitalba still stand out everywhere, their wispy seeds now looking like tufts of hair.
The foetid iris Iris foetidissima is equally arresting in gardens as well as in the occasional wood. Among the dead leaves, their fruits have now split open revealing their large almost vermilion-coloured berries. More clusters of vivid orange fruits can also still be seen on spindles Euonymus. One of the most unusually coloured fruits of the month are the sickly purple berries on Pernettya mucronata.
Pernettyas are dwarf shrubs from South America where they cover heaths with their wiry stems not unlike heather does here. They are famous for the amount and longevity of their berries which vary in colour from white through pink, rose to deep red and purple. It might be noticed that when they are seen in gardens it is usually in groups of two or three or more. This is because they are either unisexual or hermaphrodite and so it is always worth making sure there is a good male around to ensure a good berry crop.
