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Plants for Birds

Trees and Shrubs

In the following table, "Z" stands for plant hardiness zone and "S" stands for the season when the fruit or seed is mostly available.
Plant Z S Maximum Hight x Width; characteristics Bird species Attracted
American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) 3-8 W 30 feet; pollination needs one male for every five females. Robins, waxwings, cardinals, vireos, tanagers, grosbeaks, others
American cranberrybush viburnum (Viburnum trilobum) 2-7 S-W 8 to 10 feet tall
Arborvitae  (Thuja occidentalis) 3-7 dense, with a pyramidal shape
Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.) 5-8 F-W fast-growing shrub that will reach about 4 feet in height
Crabapple (Malus spp.) 3-9 F-W Robins, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, cardinals, waxwings, Pine Grosbeaks, finches, many others
**Elderberries (Sambucus spp.) 3-9 S 10 feet Indigo Bunting, Oriole, bluebirds, Grosbeak(s), Song Sparrow, Warblers, tanagers, catbirds; thrashers. mockingbirds, waxwings
*Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) 2-8 F ornamental tree, to 40 feet high Robins, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, cardinals, tanagers, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, thrashers, mockingbirds.
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) W 45 feet
Hibiscus 4-9 to 7x3 feet Hummingbirds
Holly (Ilex spp.); Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) 5-9 F-W small bushes to 60-foot trees Robins, bluebirds, waxwings, thrushes, woodpeckers, catbirds, thrashers, mockingbirds.
**Red-osier dogwood, gray dogwood ...  (Cornus spp.) F 4-10 feet. Fruit with high fat content Robins, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, vireos, kingbirds, juncos, cardinals, warblers, Wild Turkey, grouse, others
Mountain ash 2-6 F-W robins, cedar waxwings
**Mulberries (Morus spp.) S Medium-sized trees, 30 to 60 feet Robins, waxwings, cardinals, warblers, orioles, tanagers, catbirds, thrashers, mockingbirds, bluebirds, thrushes.
*Nannyberry, arrowwood (Viburnum spp.) F-W 35 feet Robins, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, cardinals, finches, waxwings, Pine Grosbeaks, finches, waxwings
*Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) F-W Tree Swallows (especially wintering), catbirds, bluebirds, many others.
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) 4-9 F-W 6 to 10 feet
Russian olive
**Serviceberry or Shagbush (Amelanchier spp.) 3-9 S Medium-sized trees, 25 to 60 feet high Robins, waxwings, cardinals, vireos, tanagers, grosbeaks, mockingbirds, thrashers, flickers, downy woodpeckers, chickadees
**Weigela 4-8 S shrub; Weigela WINE & ROSES Hummingbirds
 

Flowers and Vines

A list of flowers includes:
  • Allium(Allium, Zones 2 to 10)
  • Aster (Aster, Zones 3 to 8)
  • Bee balm (Monarda, Zones 3 to 9)
  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia, Zones 3 to 9)
  • Blanket Flower (Gaillardia, Zones 3 to 10)
  • Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) - hummingbirds
  • Coneflower (Echinacea, Zones 3 to 9) - goldfinches and other birds in the fall.
  • Coreopsis (Coreopsis, Zones 3 to 11)
  • Goldenrod (Solidago, Zones 3 to 9)
  • Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) - hummingbirds, orioles, berries for finches and thrushes
  • Sedum (Sedum, Zones 3 to 10)
  • Sunflower (Helianthus spp.)
  • Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans, Zones 4 to 9) - hummingbirds
  • Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinqefolia) - mockingbirds, nuthatches, woodpeckers and blue jays

References