Red-Hot Plants

Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden

- JODI HELMER

1 Strawberry tree

ARBUTUS UNEDO

ZONES 7 TO 10

This slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree is native to western Europe and thrives in warmer climates. The glossy leaves, white flowers, and red berries or drupes provide interest in every season. Harvest the fruit in autumn and use it in jams and jellies. Be careful: It bruises easily.

Why we love it: Pollinators enjoy the nectar, and small mammals and birds are attracted to the high sugar content in the fruit.

2 Bunchberry

CORNUS CANADENSIS

ZONES 2 TO 6

Common in forests throughout Canada and the northern United States, this spreading ground cover is a great choice for gardens in cool climates. Features include glossy green leaves that transition to red and purple in the fall and small white flowers that give way to clusters of berrylike drupes that ripen in August and last until fall.

Why we love it: Rabbits and deer steer clear of this plant.

3 Lingonberry

VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA

ZONES 2 TO 7

This creeping evergreen shrub forms dense mats, but it's not the leatherlike oval leaves that make it popular; it's the red edible berries that appear twice a year. Eaten raw, the fruits have a bitter taste, but they make an ideal replacement for cranberries when cooked (hence the alternate moniker, northern mountain cranberries).

Why we love it: Lingonberries are superfruits and have the highest antioxidant content of all berries.

4 Common winterberry

ILEX VERTICILLATA

ZONES 3 TO 9