Parker's Picks — Nannyberry

One of Western New York’s best native shrubs, nannyberry is a large, low-maintenance, multi-stemmed shrub with showy clusters of creamy-white flowers in late spring to early summer, followed by blue-black fruits that ripen in autumn and often persist into winter.

Nannyberry typically grows 10-16 feet tall and performs best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers moist, well-drained soils but readily adapts to clay, periodic flooding, drought, road salt, and urban conditions. Planting two or more shrubs improves fruit production through cross-pollination. Because it blooms and fruits on old wood, prune immediately after flowering.

An excellent choice for hedges, privacy screens, windbreaks, and naturalized plantings, the fruits are edible and develop their best flavor after the first frost. In my experience, there’s far more seed than pulp, but the flesh has a pleasant flavor reminiscent of prunes or raisins. For that reason, I usually leave the berries for the birds — which they certainly don’t seem to mind!

Nannyberry is a pollinator powerhouse. Its flowers attract native bees and other pollinators, while it serves as a larval host for the Spring Azure butterfly and several native moths. The nutrient-rich berries provide an important food source for songbirds and other wildlife throughout fall and winter.

The Haudenosaunee valued Nannyberry as both a food and medicinal plant. The fruits were eaten fresh or dried for winter use, while root preparations were used to help ease digestive ailments.