Black Fruit

Huge flat clusters, becoming dome-shaped as they mature, are composed of numerous small lightly fragrant white flowers that are followed by heavy crops of shiny black berries. The American Elderberry, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis, is a large growing native deciduous suckering shrub whose cooked fruit and flowers are used to create healthy and delicious confections, syrup, jelly, wine and more. The pollen rich flower clusters attract an array of smaller pollinators and its ripe fruit is sure to attract a host of bird species. Elderberries are monoecious, both male and female at the same time, and are typically at least semi-self fertile but it is generally recommended to plant at least two different plants for cross pollination and the heaviest crops. If you order multiple plants from us, you will receive at least two different selections. The large ripe fruit clusters are a great treat for chickens. Item #11269

Large clusters of white late spring flowers produce green berries that ripen to a blue-black. The flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators and the edible fruits attract a variety of wildlife, especially birds. Arrowwood Viburnum is a vigorous growing, naturally rounded, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with rich green foliage and is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. Fall color includes yellows, orange, reds, and near purple. Arrowwood Viburnum makes an easy hedge, background specimen, or screen. Easy and reliable. Item# 10922

The large rounded, thick, tough, blue-green to deep olive green, evergreen foliage is long-lived and as the name suggests you can sign your name on a young leaf and watch it grow as the leaf expands. The Autograph Tree, Clusia rosea, is an upright growing tropical to subtropical tree from the Caribbean and southern Florida that produces white to pink, 2-3 inch wide, waxy flowers that open at night and may last into morning on overcast days and are followed by 2-3" diameter green fruits that eventually fall and split open to reveal bright red-orange seeds that attract birds. Although this is a tropical tree it can easily be maintained as container shrub with pruning. Provide full sun to part sun in a well-drained, average moist soil. Its night opening flowering suggest moth pollination making this a good addition to the moon moth garden. Drought resistant and a forgiving and easy container specimen. Item# 12609

The 6-petaled starry flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red are heavily speckled and flecked with red and are produced on sturdy stems atop the fans of medium to light green iris-like foliage in summer over a period of several weeks. The flowers of the Blackberry Lily, Belamcanda chinensis or more recently Iris domestica, are followed by seed pods that split open to reveal shiny black round seeds that are sometimes used in dried arrangements for fall. This is a hardy clump forming heirloom perennial with a tough constitution as well as being a colorful and low-maintenance addition to the garden and landscape. It will do best in an average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12304

Large, 4-7'', clusters of fragrant brilliant white flowers are borne in spring as the rich green new growth emerges. A beautiful and easy small flowering tree. Rich dark glossy green foliage. Durability, toughness, and vigor lend this tree to use as a street tree or practically anywhere in the garden. Chinese Fringe is moderately drought tolerant once well established. Highly recommended by Dr. David Creech at Stephen F Austin University, Nacogdoches, Texas where a huge planting of this wonderful tree lines Wilson street on campus. A 2003 UGA Gold Medal winner! Item# 9129.

Large, 4-7'', clusters of fragrant brilliant white flowers are borne in spring as the rich green new growth emerges. A beautiful and easy small flowering tree. Rich dark glossy green foliage. Durability, toughness, and vigor lend this tree to use as a street tree or practically anywhere in the garden. Chinese Fringe is moderately drought tolerant once well established. Highly recommended by Dr. David Creech at Stephen F Austin University, Nacogdoches, Texas where a huge planting of this wonderful tree lines Wilson street on campus. A 2003 UGA Gold Medal winner! Item# 11089

The deep green 4-angled succulent stems are tipped with deep green fuzzy palmate grape or cucumber-like foliage that soon becomes deciduous. The Cucumber Cactus, Cissus quadrangularis, is an easy to succulent herbaceous vining to trailing plant whose stems can potentially grow to 5-15' long if a support is provided but is easily kept as a smaller hanging basket or container plant. In spring it may produce clusters of small green to yellowish flowers that may be followed by grape-like clusters of red to black berries. This unusual succulent is drought resistant and is quite adaptable to growing conditions from full sun to light shade as well as very acidic to very alkaline soils, although, it does require good to excellent drainage and should never be soggy wet. The Cucumber Cactus has been used medicinally,as food, and as fiber in its native tropical Asia and Africa. If stems happen to break off they will readily root. Item# 12438

Another excellent native shrub for the landscape! The dense neat mound of deep green glossy foliage and red tinged stems is topped by clusters of white flowers in spring which make way to red berries ripening through purple and finally black. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators and the fruit attract songbirds and smaller fructivores. Walter's Dwarf Viburnum, Viburnum obovatum 'Densa', is a compact, densly branching selection of this southeastern native. This shrub's dense habit lends it to use anywhere a small to medium-sized shrub is desired in the landscape. It is generally evergreen into zone 8A and tends to be deciduous to semi-evergreen in zones 6 and 7. Use this tough native shrub in place of Dwarf Yaupon, Indian Hawthorne, or anywhere a medium-sized, disease resistant, low maintenance shrub or hedge is desired. Provide a full sun to part shade site in an average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor. Images shown are an example of what to expect with this cultivar but are of the common Walter's Viburnum, Viburnum obovatum. Item# 12731

Large drooping panicles of fragrant fleecy-white flowers adorn this small, native tree in spring and are followed by clusters of tiny black olive-like fruit in summer and fall and are great for birds. The Grancy Graybeard is a tough and adaptable small deciduous tree with a medium rate of growth that is makes an excellent understory tree, specimen, or in mixed natural landscapes. It is also tolerant of urban settings. Item# 10958.

The medium-sized purple, red, brown to near black figs have a thin skin with a  juicy, mildly fruity flavored, sweet flesh that ranges from deep amber or orange to a near strawberry heart typically ripening in September. Grise Olivette Fig is a French fig whose name translates to "gray olive". Expect it to be a smaller plant as this variety tends to have lower vigor which may lend it to use as a containerized plant. Item#13016

Large, 1-2" long x 3/8-1/2" diameter, shiny black mulberries with a very sweet flavor are produced in spring and are basically seedless. Fruit can be eaten fresh as well as to make jelly, jams, and even wine. The Illinois Everbearing Mulberry, a highly popular hybrid of Morus alba and the native M. rubra, reliably produces large crops at a young age and is self-pollinating. These are fast growing, medium sized trees with a natural umbrella to rounded shaped mature habit to 30-40' high and wide. Songbirds love the ripe fruit and waves of Cedar Waxwings come through annually to feast on them. Mulberries make an easy and low maintenance fruit tree for homes and gardens. These are cuttings grown from our own tree. Item# 1000

Large, 1" long mulberries, with a very sweet flavor. Mulberries are typically fast growing, medium sized trees with a natural umbrella shaped mature habit to 40' high and wide. Good crops, usually, if you can beat the birds, and do not get a late freeze. Our Mother tree had a bumper crop in 2010 after the very harsh winter here. These are grown from cuttings from our own tree.  Item # 9378.

Large clusters of fiery orange-red tubular flowers are produced from summer through fall to yearround in warm tropical climates and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Clusters of shiny black 3/8" fruit develop on pollinated flowers and are utilized by songbirds. When grown in full to mostly sunny conditions the foliage generally has a reddish tinge. The Firebush, Hamelia patens var. patens, is native to the southern half of Florida and is evergreen under frost free conditions and can develop into a medium to large shrub. *We have grown this species in our zone 8B gardens for over 30 years as a quite reliable 3-4' high die-back perennial. Each winter it freezes back to its crown and then returns in mid to late spring to flower through much of summer and into fall. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, although they are fairly tolerant, for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 898

A 2016 Louisiana Super Plant selection! The dense neat mound of deep green glossy foliage and red tinged stems is topped by clusters of white flowers in spring which make way to red berries ripening through purple and finally black. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators and the fruit attract songbirds and smaller fructivores. Mrs. Schiller's Delight Viburnum is a selection of the southeastern native Walter's Viburnum, Viburnum obovatum, and its dense mounding habit lends it to use anywhere a small compact shrub is desired in the landscape. It is generally evergreen into zone 8A and tends to be deciduous to semi-evergreen in zones 6 and 7. Use this tough little native shrub in place of Dwarf Yaupon, Indian Hawthorne, or anywhere a small, disease resistant, low maintenance shrub is desired. Provide a full sun to part shade site in an average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor. Images shown are an example of what to expect with this cultivar but are of the common Walter's Viburnum, Viburnum obovatum. Item# 12728

Huge, 3-5" long mulberries, with a raspberry-like flavor. Mulberries are typically fast growing, medium sized trees with a natural umbrella shaped mature habit to 30' high and wide. These are  grown from cuttings from our own tree. We  have a few ready for spring.  Item # 854.

The large, palmate, tropical-looking, glossy medium to deep green foliage is heavily overlaid with contrasting white to creamy white variegation including the major veins which are almost solid white. A choice evergreen shrub for shaded sites. Mature plants produce large loose clusters to 18" or more across are composed of 1" to 1-1/2" diameter, ball-shaped white flowers that are produced in fall to winter attracting an amazing number of mainly smaller pollinators and are followed by 1/4" diameter green berries that ripen to black. Spider's Web Fatsia or Japanese Aralia makes an excellent choice for shaded locations and develops into a medium to large, often multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an initially slow rate of growth that increase to moderate once plants are well-established. Makes a wonderful specimen, informal hedge, or container plant for indoors or out. Provide Fatsia with an average moist, fertile, acidic soil rich in organic matter with average or better drainage. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12829

The light apple green new growth eventually matures to a medium matte green and in spring pyramidal clusters of small fragrant white flowers are produced at the ends of the stems attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Pollinated flowers develop into 1/4" diameter round berries that turn red and eventually ripen to black. The Sweet Viburnum, Viburnum odoratissimum, is evergreen well into zone 8 but may become deciduous in zones 6-7. This is a vigorous and large growing shrub that can be trained into a treeform or pruned into a neat but coarse-textured hedge. Its lighter green foliage makes a wonderful foil for other plants with darker green foliage and brightly colored flowers. This was one of my favorite hedges to help maintain at 4'Hx4-5'W at Judge and Lady Hall's residence in DeRidder, Louisiana when we still owned Bonny Plants. Provide a full to partly sunny site in an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum growth and vigor. Item# 12732

Loads of glossy black, 3/8", thin skinned, very sweet huckleberries (actually blueberries) begin ripening in mid April often lasting through May. This is one of the earliest ripening native blueberries and we selected this variety for its exceptionally sweet, tender fruit and its heavy bearing characteristics. An excellent berry for pancakes, muffins, pies, and certainly fresh eating. An Almost Eden Exclusive introduction! In limited supply. Item# 10832.

The large, palmate, tropical-looking, glossy deep green foliage of this Variegated Fatsia is splashed with nicely contrasting bright creamy white making this a standout in shaded gardens. Large loose clusters to 18" or more across are composed of 1" to 1-1/2" diameter, ball-shaped white flowers that are produced in fall to winter attracting an amazing number of mainly smaller pollinators and are followed by 1/4" diameter green berries that ripen to black. Fatsia or Japanese Aralia makes an excellent choice for shaded locations and develops into a medium to large, often multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an initially slow rate of growth that increase to moderate once plants are well-established. Makes a wonderful specimen, informal hedge, or container plant for indoors or out. Provide Fatsia with an average moist, fertile, acidic soil rich in organic matter with average or better drainage. Item# 9305