Coralberry is one of those shrubs that rewards patience. The greenish-white spring flowers pass quietly, almost unremarked, but by October the arching stems are laden with tight clusters of coral-pink to deep magenta berries that persist well into winter, drawing birds and providing some of the most reliable color the dormant garden can offer. Native to the bottomland woods and rocky slopes of eastern and central North America, it thrives in the kind of difficult ground where more refined shrubs sulk.

At 2 to 4 feet tall with a spreading width of up to 6 feet, coralberry works best when given room to naturalize. Its suckering habit makes it an excellent choice for stabilizing slopes, and the dense branching provides genuine wildlife cover. For fruiting to occur, more than one genetic strain is needed, so plant several individuals sourced from different stock. Where spread is unwanted, the underground rhizomes can be removed, but in a wilder corner of the garden, this plant is better left to its own devices.