Planting Trees for the Birds
Planting Trees for the Birds
Trees
provide many benefits: they provide shade for your home; they helpful to
the environment; they provide your yard with beauty; and they provide safe
roosting spots, nest building spots, and tasty food treats for birds ranging
from acorns and seed pods to berries as well as countless insects.
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(Cornus mas) |
A spreading tree or shrub of 20' to 25' tall is an early bloomer. Its yellow flowers are followed by red, oblong fruits in summer. | Grow in well drained, fertile soil in sun to partial shade. Zones 4 to 8 |
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(Chionanthus virginicus) |
A small tree that grows from 12' to 20' tall. It has lacy , fragrant, white flower heads that are followed by grapelike clusters of blue berries that birds adore. | Grow in moist, fertile soil, in full sun. Zones 3 to 9. |
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(Nyssa sylvatica) |
30' to 40' tall, with drooping branches, bluish black fruits, and oval leaves that turn scarlet in the fall. | Grow in moist, well drained acidic soil, in sun or shade. Zones 3 to 9 |
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(Elaeagnus angustifolia) |
Wide-spreading bushlike form and attractive gray-green leaves that are silvery on the undersides. Tiny yellow flowers and intensely fragrant yield yellowish berries. Grows 20' to 30'. | A good choice for shade, windbreaks, or screens. It is hardy and drought resistant and will grow in almost any soil. Birds love the berries. |
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(Quercus spp.) |
Many varieties have deeply lobed leaves, and most oaks grow more than 50' tall. They of course produce acorns. | They are hardy trees that grow well in most soils. Branches are strong enough to resist damage from wind, ice, and snow. Many nut eating birds love the acorns. The scarlet oak also is a great tree if you like brilliant bright colors in the fall. |
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(Nyssa sylvatica) |
A slow growing tree that reaches between 30' and 70'. It has distinctive horizontal branches and is noted for it's brilliant fall colors, ranging from scarlet to orange. In late summer, female trees bear clusterss of grapelike berries that are relished by birds. | Slow growing, and does best in moist, acidic soils. |
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(Sambucus spp.) |
Grows from 8' to 15' tall, depending on variety. The Aurea has bright yellow foliage through summer. and red berries. Most varieties have blue-black berries. Clusters of creamy white flowers are followed by the berries in midsummer. | Grow in full sun, in moist soils supplemented by peat moss or leaf mold. Depending on variety, hardy in Zones 3 to 9. If you want to use the berries for wine, jam, and pies, pick them promply as the berries are a favorite of birds. |
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(Crataegus) |
Thorny branched, grows from 15' to 25' tall and has clouds of small, creamy white flowers and beautiful, glowing red berries. The long thorns can be hazardous if small children play in your yard. | Grow in well drained soil, in full sun. Zones 3 to 7 |
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(Cercis canadensis) |
20' tall American native tree that's flushed with pinkish purple flowers in spring. The flowers attract insects with then attract migrating wood warblers. The flat brown seen pods keep chickadees and titmice happy in the winter. | Grow in well drained soil in full sun to light shade. Zones 4 to 9 |
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(Amerlancheir arborea) |
A graceful, often multistemmed, small tree that grows 25' tall and has white flowers in early spring. The bird attracting berries turn from green to read, and finally to a purplish black. The leaves turn a fine shade of red in fall. | Grow in moist, well drained, acidic soil in full sun to partial
shade. Zones 3 to 8
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(Sassafras albidum) |
A handsome tree that grows to 30 feet or taller. The large leaves turn gold to flaming orange in fall. Birds will eat the dark blue fruits as they ripen in the fall. | Grow in moist, well drained, acidic soil in full sun to light shade. Zones 4 to 9 |
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(Liriodendron tulipipera) |
A large shade tree which can reach 100' tall. It has pointed, lobed leaves and sweet smelling flowers, with creamy, waxy, petals and a green and orange central blotch. The flowers mature into a pinecone like seed pod with attract goldfinches, pine siskins, purple finches, cardinals, and evening grosbeaks. | Grow in deep, moist, well drained soil, in full sun. Zones 4 to 9 |
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(Rhamnus frangula) |
Basically, a really large shrub, that grows from 12' to 18' tall. In early summer, has pale flowers, followed by berries that change from green to yellow and red. It has 2 inch shiny leaves that turn yellow in the fall. | They will grow in almost any soil, including very wet soil, and will grow in full sun or light shade. Zones 2 to 8. Birds love the berries and have scattered the seeds so widely, that the buckthorn is considered a weed in some places. |
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(Lonicera spp.) |
Honeysuckles have fragrant, tubular flowers in clusters or whorls. Flower color ranges from red, orange, coral, yellow or white. They also produce berries. Most varieties are fast growing. | Can be trained to be vinelike and climb arbors or trellises. Hummingbireds love the nectar, and a vareity of birds love the berry. Grow in full sun and partial shade. Depending on variety, hardy in Zones 2 to 10. |
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(Celtis occidentalis) |
Related to elms, they have similarly shaped leaves, usually saw-toothed. They have pea sized berries. They grow 50' to 60' tall, but some varieties like the sugarberry grow up to 90' tall. | All varieties of Hackberry are hardy to Zone 4. All species do well in full sun and tolerate almost any soild, acid or alkaline, wet or dry. The berries of course are loved by birds. |
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(Albizia julibrissin) |
A rapid grower that reaches up to 35' tall. They have 9 to 18" feathered leaves. In early summer and lasting until late fall, 5 to 8 inches balls of pink flowers. The flowers are followed by seed pods. | The fragrant flowers are loved by hummingbirds, and the flowers put on a magnificant display. Hardy to Zone 7. |
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(Sorbus spp.) |
Fast growing ornamental trees up to 50' depending on variety. They produce delicate white flowers in spring, followed by orange to red berries favored by birds, like the Cedar Waxwing. | Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.
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(Cornus spp.) |
A deciduous ornamental tree that grows from 15' to 40' and are usually wider than they are tall. Dogwoods flower (usually white) in the spring, bear shiny red berries in the summer, and have bright wine colored foliage in the fall. | With more than 30 species and varieties, there is some type of dogwood
that will grow in your area. Most require partial shade and cool,
acidic, well drained soil.
Zones 3 to 8. |
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(Malus spp.) |
The flowering crabapple is a tree that grows anywhere from 15' to 25' depending on variety. They flower in the spring with pink or white flowers, and bear a fruit that ranges from yellow to red in color. | Plant in full sun for best flowering and fruit. They should have well drained, moist, acidic soil. Zones 2 to 6. |
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(Asimina tribola) |
Grows 20' to 30' tall, and gets equally wide. It has 6 to 12" glossy leaves. In late spring, as the budding leaves mature, 2 inch blossoms appear that are green and then change to a dull purple. Flowers are followed by a sausage shaped fruit. | Grow in full sun or very light shade in moist well drained soil. Hardy to Zone 4. This tree attracts catipillars that the birds will feast on. |
| Feeding the birds | Providing Water for the Birds |
| Providing Housing for the Birds | Back to the Main Page |
| Other Methods to Attract Birds | Providing Safety for Birds |