Plumleaf Viburnum bed

 Blackburnian Warbler, Photo David Lang

Native plants provide many things to native birds, such as year-round food. The Serviceberry tree provides berries in early summer, whereas Plumleaf Viburnum is full of nutritious berrres in late Fall to early Winter. 

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Native plants also provide:

• • Good nutrition.  Berries of native honeysuckle have high nutrient value whereas bush honeysuckle is “junk food” that offers little to a bird.

  • Good variety. Most birds require protein and almost all baby birds eat only insects, so trees and shurbs that attract insects are cruicial to bird survival.  Native plant species attract many times more insects than non-natives.

  • Varying seed sizes. The spirea (hardtack) flower produces tiny seeds eaten by tiny birds with tiny beaks.  Larger birds prefer the larger berries of plants like serviceberry and viburnum.

  • Cover. Dense growth of low-growing sumac provides shelter and hidden nest sites.

 Pileated Woodpecker, Photo David Lang

Plant Species

    Viburnum prunifolium     Plumleaf Viburnum.

    Amelanchier                    Serviceberry.

    Catalpa speciosa              Northern Catalpa

    Lonicera sempervirens    Trumpet Honeysuckle (vine). 

    Rhus aromatica                Fragrant Sumac.

    Spirea tomentosa             Hardtack.

    Itea virginica                    Virginia-willow.

    Symphoricarpos albus      Common Snowberry.

    Quercus                            Oak

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