Native Shrubs that Attract Birds

Plant native shrubs that attract birds. Going native in the garden to attract more wildlife. Native shrubs are a natural lure for birds as well as all wildlife. Birds naturally gravitate to native shrubs. And have the benefit of settling in quickly … since they are native to our habitat they tend to settle quickly once planted.

Gardening for Pollinators use NATIVE Shrubs #Native #NativePlants #NativeGardening #AttractBirds #ShrubsForBirds #ShrubsForWildlife #BeneficialForPollinators #GardeningForPollinators — Gardening for Pollinators use NATIVE Shrubs

Take a look at our list of native shrubs that attract birds.

Common Buttonbush

Native Shrubs that Attract Birds Cephalanthus occidentalis BUTTONBUSH #Native #NativePlants #NativeGardening #AttractBirds #ShrubsForBirds #ShrubsForWildlife #BeneficialForPollinators #GardeningForPollinators — Native Shrubs that Attract Birds – Cephalanthus occidentalis BUTTONBUSH

Common Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis

Native
Grows in zones 4 to 9
Part shade and part sun to full Sun
Reaches 12 feet tall by 8 feet wide
Small white flowers in a dense, spherical cluster with protruding pistils
Blooms June, July, and August
Bee friendly that attracts birds and butterflies, including the swallowtail butterfly
Resistant to deer
Brown button-like fruit is consumed by waterfowl and shorebirds over the Winter
Tolerant of wet soils, flood conditions and shallow standing water for short periods of time
Tolerates loam, clay, limestone, and sandy soil conditions
Plant in a rain garden or wetland

The Common Buttonbush shrub is also known as Button Willow. Part of the coffee family, Rubiaceae, this shrub grows in many of the 48 states however, not the Pacific Northwest. Buttonbush has a distinctive twisting trunk with crooked branches. An important native shrub that benefits a large number of Wildlife. Providing a food source year round to providing cover from predators and nesting opportunities.

A note of caution, the foliage is poisonous to livestock and other animals. So, be sure to plant in an environment where livestock and pets do not have access to. The flowers and fruit attract many pollinators and birds. A few of the birds that are attracted to the Buttonbush shrub are:

Blue Jays * Crows * Chickadees & Titmice * Cardinals & Grosbeaks * Finches * Mockingbirds & Thrashers * Nuthatches * Orioles * Sparrows * Thrushes * Vireos * Waxwings * Woodpeckers * Wood Warblers * Wrens

2. Ilex Berry Poppins

Ilex Berry Poppins

Native
Grows in zones 3-9
Part shade and part Sun to full Sun
Reaches 3 to 4 feet tall with a spread of 3 feet wide
Small white blooms
Blooms Spring into early Summer
Attracts birds
Tolerates clay, normal, loamy, and sandy soil conditions
Tolerant of heat and humid weather conditions
Resistant to disease and pest

A cold hardy female Winterberry Holly ornamental shrub. Blazing red berries for Autumn and Winter Wildlife feeding. The compact and heavily branched shrub blooms on new wood. Male pollinator is needed for best flowering and fruiting. The male pollinator for the female is called Ilex Mr Poppins Holly. Birds that frequently visit the Winterberry Holly are:

Blue Jays * Crows * Chickadees & Titmice * Cardinals & Grosbeaks * Mockingbirds & Thrashers * Nuthatches * Orioles * Sparrows * Thrushes * Vireos * Waxwings * Woodpeckers * Wood Warblers * Wrens

3. Viburnum Acerifolium

Viburnum Acerifolium

Native
Grows in zones 4 to 7
Full shade to part shade and part Sun
Reaching 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 in width
Spring blooming creamy white clusters of flowers
Bloom in Spring
White blooms followed by red to blue-black berries
Tolerates rocky, sandy, loamy, and clay soil conditions
Attracts birds, butterflies, bees, and other nectar insects

As the Autumn months arrive, the maple shaped leaves turn burgundy with a purple gray color underneath. An excellent source of food and shelter for Wildlife. Birds that typically visit the viburnum shrub are:

Blue Jays * Crows * Chickadees & Titmice * Cardinals & Grosbeaks * Mockingbirds & Thrashers * Nuthatches * Orioles * Sparrows * Thrushes * Vireos * Waxwings * Woodpeckers * Wood Warblers * Wrens

4. Wild Hydrangea

Wild Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens

Native
Grows in zones 4 to 9
Shade to part shade and part Sun
Reaches 4 to 6 feet tall
Greenish-white dense, flat-topped clusters blooms
Blooms from June to July
Attracts birds
Larval host for Hydrangea Sphinx moth

Some of the common names for Wild Hydrangea include Sevenbark, Smooth Hydrangea, and Tree Hydrangea. This shrub grows along ravine walls and slopes inside forest lands. Used by Cherokee and Southerns for herbal traditions. Some of the birds that you may see are:

5. American Hazelnut

Native Shrubs that Attract Birds American Hazelnut - by Superior National Forest #Native #NativePlants #NativeGardening #AttractBirds #PlantsForBirds #PlantsForWildlife #BeneficialForPollinators #GardeningForPollinators — Native Shrubs that Attract Birds – American Hazelnut – by Superior National Forest

American Hazelnut Corylus americana

Native
Grows in zones 4 to 8
Part shade and part Sun to full Sun
Reaches 6 to 15 feet tall
Red blooms
Blooms in April and May
Edible nuts in late Summer
Tolerates sandy, loam, and clay soil conditions
Moisture: Dry, Medium, Moist
Bee friendly shrub that attracts birds
Serves as a host plant

In the Autumn months, the deep green leaves turn to copper reds and yellows. The American Hazelnut is a highly valued wildlife shrub producing nuts. Nuts are eaten by squirrels, foxes, deer, turkeys, woodpeckers, pheasants, as well as other wildlife. Foliage is browsed by rabbits and deer, with the branches providing cover and nesting sites for birds. Serves as a host for numerous caterpillars. Some of the typical birds that are seen at the American Hazelnut shrub are:

6. Spicebush

Spicebush Lindera benzoin

Native
Grows in shade to part shade and part Sun
Reaches 15 feet
Tiny, pale yellow cluster of blooms
Blooms April and May
Glossy red fruit develops after the blooms
Attracts insects, butterflies, and birds
Resistant to deer
Fragrant leaves
Tolerant of shade
Serves as a larval host for several butterfly species

Known by other names including Northern Spicebush, Common Spicebush, and Wild Allspice, the Spicebush shrub is an important food source. The leaves feed the Spicebush and Swallowtail caterpillars. Ornamental ripe red berries feed migratory birds as they journey across the country. Birds that typically are seen by the Spicebush are:

Blue Jays * Crows * Chickadees & Titmice * Cardinals & Grosbeaks * Mockingbirds & Thrashers * Nuthatches * Orioles * Sparrows * Thrushes * Vireos * Waxwings * Woodpeckers Wood Warblers * Wrens

7. Tangerine Beauty Crossvine

Tangerine Beauty Crossvine Bignonia capreolata

Native
Grows in zones 6 to 9
Full Sun
Reaches 10 to 20 feet tall by 10 to 20 feet wide
Fragrant trumpet-shaped orange red flowers
Blooms in the Spring and Summer
Attracts butterflies, birds, and hummingbirds

A climbing woody vine with orange-red trumpet shaped flowers. Attracts wildlife especially hummingbirds. Plant butterfly bush, coneflower, milkweed, bee balm, and salvia as companions to crossvine. Birds that frequently visit Tangerine Beauty Crossvine are hummingbirds.

8. Flowering Dogwood

Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida

Native
Grows in zones 5 to 9
Part shade and part Sun to full Sun
Reaches 20 to 25 feet
White flowers
Blooms in the Spring
Attracts birds
Tolerates acidic, clay, loamy, moist, rich, and sandy soil conditions

A native berry producing tree that attracts many forms of wildlife. Provides multi-seasonal garden interest. White blooms during the Spring to Autumn reddish purple foliage to Winter berries. Winter songbirds love the red berry fruit. The dogwood tree has immense wildlife value. Berry fruit is eaten by ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and other birds. Birds that you may see at the White Dogwood Tree are:

Blue Jays * Crows * Chickadees & Titmice * Cardinals & Grosbeaks * Mockingbirds & Thrashers * Nuthatches * Orioles * Sparrows * Thrushes * Vireos * Waxwings * Woodpeckers * Wood Warblers * Wrens

This ends our list of native shrubs that attract birds. For best results, be sure to include native plants that bloom all three seasons. A pollinator garden is more effective when there are food sources year round for wildlife. Pollinator gardening is a year round effort to keep birds and other wildlife not only fed but protected from predators.

Finally, we hope that you try one of these native shrubs in your garden. With native plants you have the benefit of attracting many birds and wildlife that not only visit the pollinator garden but even move in permanently.

Interested in gardening for pollinators? If you found this helpful . . .