Plant suggestions

I have a fenced-in area that I attempted to grow some fruit trees. Some have died so I have some extra square footage. I don't do a good job of taking care of the fruit trees. I don't want to spray them every two weeks as my dad did. I want something lower maintenance.

I'm in Zone 6a. My blueberries are doing great with minimal maintenance. So are my currants.

But I'd like some more suggestions for fruit bushes.  Extra points given for native plants.

thank you.

Can I have a state, for the native 6a plants? So i can help you.

I'm in SW Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has a variety of berry plants that are native to the state. Pawpaw, butternut, common persimmon, black cherry, and chokecherry are some of the most popular berry plants that grow in Pennsylvania.

You can find out more at http://musserforest.com/browse.asp?m=2&p=360

I'm not affiliated with them, however I buy from them almost yearly.

Haskaps aka Honeyberries.  They are super hardy.  I just found 10 that I missed in a sea other plants that I had gotten this past summer.  They are in 4 inch pots and have not been watered or otherwise cared for in months (some of them very hot and dry).  I checked the cambium layer and it was still nice and green so I went ahead and stuck them in the ground.  Besides that, honeyberries are the first berry to ripen in your garden (about 1.5-2 weeks before strawberries), higher in antioxidants than blueberries, higher in Vit. C than oranges, and has 38mg of calcium per serving. They are basically pest and disease free, so no spraying needed.  They are hardy from zones 1-7 (doesn't do as well in 7 though, they prefer colder weather).  If you'd like more info on them check out the lovehoneyberry .com site.  

Gooseberries are pretty much no care shrubs. They aren’t allowed some places because of white pine blister rust.  Some places you just have to plant disease resistant gooseberries.

I believe mulberries can be kept at shrub size. Red mulberry is native. White mulberry was introduced to this continent about 300 years ago. They are everywhere. They aren’t going away. They are said to be invasive. They have already invaded, so I see no harm in planting them.  They are very productive and delicious.

Montmorency Cherry is a small tree and usually produces with no care here in Missouri. You could probably find it on dwarf rootstock if you need it to be bush sized.