Many trees and shrubs also provide birds with an insulated area
of shelter. Dense evergreens and shrubs protect birds from harsh winter winds and supply
them with nesting materials. Below is a list of plants that will attract birds to the
garden for food, shelter and nesting supplies.
| Latin Name |
Common Name |
Season |
Description |
Uses |
| Acer ginnala |
Amur Maple |
Fall/Winter |
Yellowish white blooms with samara fruits |
Food |
| Acer saccharum |
Sugar Maple |
Fall/Winter |
Red blooms with samara fruits |
Food and nesting materials |
| Aguilegia spp. |
Columbine |
Spring |
Exquisite, dainty flowers in a wide range of colors |
Food (hummingbird) |
| Amelanchier arborea |
Serviceberry |
Spring |
White blooms with reddish-purple fruit |
Food |
| Aronia arbutifolia |
Red chokeberry |
Fall/Winter |
Whitish-pink blooms with red fruit |
Food |
| Betula papyrifera |
Paper Birch |
Fall/Winter |
Bright white stems and clear yellow foliage |
Food, shelter, nesting materials |
| Buddleia davidii |
Butterfly Bush |
Summer |
Graceful gray-green foliage with fragrant violet blooms |
Food (hummingbird) |
| Campsis radicans |
Trumpet Vine |
Summer |
Orange and scarlet tubular blossoms with rich, dense foliage |
Food (hummingbird) |
| Latin Name |
Common Name |
Season |
Description |
Uses |
| Catalpa Speciosa |
Catalpa |
Summer |
White-spotted purple blooms with pod fruits |
Food (hummingbird) |
| Celastrus scandens |
Bittersweet |
Fall/Winter |
Strong, twisty vine with orange and red fruit through winter |
Food |
| Cornus mas |
Cornelian Cherry Dogwood |
Fall |
Golden yellow bloom with scarlet fruits |
Food |
| Cornus racemosa |
Gray Dogwood |
Summer/Fall |
Cream colored blooms with white or pale blue fruits |
Food and shelter |
| Crataegus phaenopyrum |
Washington Hawthorn |
Summer/ Winter |
White blooms with scarlet fruit |
Food |
| Euonymus alatus |
Burning Bush |
Fall/Winter |
Yellowish blooms with purple fruits |
Food |
| Ilex verticillata |
Winterberry |
Fall/Winter |
Dense holly with red fruit through winter |
Food |
| Ipomoea purpurea |
Morning Glory |
Spring/ Summer |
Colorful and hardy vines |
Food (hummingbird) |
| Juniperus virginiana |
Red Cedar |
All |
Deep green shaft with blue fruit in autumn |
Food, shelter and nesting materials |
| Lobelia cardinalis |
Cardinal Flower |
Summer |
Scarlet blooms |
Food (hummingbird) |
| Myrica pensylvanica |
Bayberry |
Winter |
Inconspicuous bloom with gray fruits |
Food |
| Parthenocissus quinquefolia |
Virginia Creeper |
Fall/Winter |
Native vine with blue-black fruit |
Food |
| Picea glauca |
White Spruce |
Summer/Fall/Winter |
Dense, pyramidal shape |
Food, shelter and nesting materials |
| Pinus nigra |
Austrian Pine |
Winter |
Dense, dark foliage |
Food and shelter |
| Latin Name |
Common Name |
Season |
Description |
Uses |
| Prunus serotina |
Black Cherry |
Summer/Fall |
White blooms with black fruit |
Food |
| Rhus glabra |
Smooth Sumac |
Winter |
Green color with small fruits |
Food |
| Rosa rugosa |
Rugosa Rose |
Fall/Winter |
Pink and white blooms with red fruit |
Food |
| Rubus allegheniensis |
Wild Blackberry |
Summer |
Black fruit |
Food |
| Rubus occidentalis |
Blackcap Raspberry |
Summer |
Purpleish-black fruit |
Food |
| Sambucus canadensis |
American Elder |
Summer |
White blooms with black fruit |
Food |
| Sorbus aucuparia |
European Mountainash |
Fall |
Flat clusters of white blossoms with brilliant
orange-vermillion fruit |
Food |
| Tsuga canadensis |
Hemlock |
Fall/Winter |
Excellent dense hedge with lithe, spreading branches |
Food |
| Vaccinium corymbosum |
Highbush Blueberry |
Spring/Fall |
White blooms with blue fruit |
Food |