The best trees and shrubs for wildlife are the ones native to your region and suited to your site. A mix of canopy trees, smaller trees and shrubs can provide flowers, fruit, nuts, insect food, cover and nesting places across more of the year than a single planting type. The ten candidates below are useful starting points for U.S. gardeners, not a universal ranking: confirm each species’ native range, mature size, growing needs and invasive risk locally.
How to choose trees and shrubs that support wildlife
Start with local native plants. Wildlife is adapted to the plant communities of its region, and native plants support insects that are part of the food chain. A plant that is native somewhere in the United States may not be native where you live, so check its botanical name and range with a local extension service, botanical garden or native-plant resource. Purdue Extension explains why regional fit matters in What You Plant Matters to Wildlife; NC State Extension also advises checking local invasive risk and considering native alternatives in Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants.
- Match the site: Check light, soil, moisture and drainage, along with the plant’s eventual height and spread.
- Choose more than fruit: Flowers, insect-host value, seeds, nuts, shelter and nesting structure all contribute to habitat.
- Spread resources through the year: Combine plants that flower or fruit at different times, including species whose fruit may remain into winter.
- Use several vegetation layers: Canopy trees, understory trees and shrubs offer different places to feed, shelter and nest.
These principles are reflected in guidance from Penn State Extension, University of Maryland Extension and The Morton Arboretum.
10 trees and shrubs to consider
The table summarizes each candidate’s habitat role. “Season” describes a general resource period, not a guarantee: timing and wildlife use vary with species, climate and local conditions. Botanical names matter, especially where a common name covers multiple species.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
| Plant | Wildlife value | Season or layer | What to verify locally |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak (Quercus spp.) | Acorns feed wildlife including jays, turkeys, squirrels and deer; oaks also host butterfly and moth larvae. | Canopy; acorns are a seasonal food resource. | Select a locally native oak and allow room for its mature size. Purdue Extension and the United States Botanic Garden describe oak wildlife value. |
| Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) | Spring flowers support pollinators; fruit is used by wildlife. | Spring flowers and later fruit; small tree or large shrub, depending on species. | Species differ in preferred growing conditions and mature form. Check local suitability with Penn State Extension’s native-plant spotlights. |
| Native dogwood (Cornus spp.) | Flowers and fruit provide food; smaller dogwoods can contribute understory structure. | Understory or shrub layer, depending on species; flowering and fruiting periods vary. | Choose a locally native species rather than assuming every dogwood is native. American Bird Conservancy distinguishes native flowering dogwood from nonnative kousa dogwood in its native-plant guide. |
| Native viburnum (Viburnum spp.) | Fruiting species provide food, and shrub growth can provide cover. | Shrub layer; fruit timing varies by species. | Confirm the botanical identity and native range; common names can be ambiguous. Penn State lists highbush cranberry among wildlife plants in its woody-plant guide. |
| Blackgum or sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica) | Fruit is used by many bird and mammal species. | Tree layer; fruiting period varies locally. | Check the site’s soil and moisture conditions before planting. See Penn State Extension’s wildlife plant list. |
| American holly (Ilex opaca) or another native holly | Evergreen structure offers cover; fruit provides food. | Evergreen cover year-round; fruit timing depends on species and conditions. | Verify native status, site suitability and cultivar characteristics. Maryland Extension includes American holly among wildlife-friendly choices in Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden. |
| Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) | Flowers and fruit provide food, while shrub growth adds cover. | Summer-fruiting option in Maryland Extension’s guidance. | Choose a species native to your area and leave space for its mature spread. See University of Maryland Extension. |
| Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) | Fruit offers a seasonal food resource. | Fall-fruiting option in Maryland Extension’s guidance. | Check regional native status and site conditions; fruit availability and wildlife use vary. See University of Maryland Extension. |
| American cranberrybush or highbush cranberry (Viburnum spp.) | Fruit may persist into winter and be eaten by birds and mammals. | Shrub layer; potentially persistent fruit. | The common name is used ambiguously, so verify the botanical species and its native range. Penn State describes winter-persistent fruit in its wildlife landscaping guide. |
| Hackberry (Celtis spp.) | A tree candidate that can provide wildlife food; northern hackberry is highlighted as an option for less-than-ideal growing conditions. | Tree layer; resource timing and site performance depend on species and location. | Confirm which hackberry is native to your region and suited to the exact site. See Penn State Extension’s plant spotlights. |
Build a planting mix, not a one-feature garden
Choose a combination that fits the available space and supplies different resources. For example, a locally native oak can contribute canopy, acorns and insect-host value; a serviceberry can add spring flowers and fruit; and native shrubs such as viburnum, elderberry or holly can add lower cover and fruit at other times. This is a design pattern, not a fixed recipe: substitute species when local range, soil, moisture, light or mature size makes a candidate unsuitable.
To attract birds, do not focus only on berries. Trees and shrubs can support birds directly with fruit, seeds or nuts and indirectly by hosting insects; dense shrubs and layered planting also add cover and potential nesting structure. Penn State’s guide to trees, shrubs and vines and the Morton Arboretum’s bird-attracting plant guidance discuss these complementary roles.
Rank #2
- Covers 330 species of forbs (herbaceous plants), grasses, vines, and shrubs
- 650 Color photos
- 56 Black and white drawings
- Softcover, 464 Pages
Check before buying or planting
- Identify the exact species. Use the botanical name, not just a broad common name such as “dogwood” or “cranberrybush.”
- Confirm regional fit. Check whether that species is native where you garden and whether it is considered invasive locally; ask a local extension service, botanical garden or native-plant resource if uncertain.
- Check the site and mature dimensions. Compare the plant’s light, soil and moisture needs with the planting location, and make sure its mature height and spread fit the space.
- Plan for seasonal and structural variety. Combine plants with different flowering and fruiting periods and, where space allows, canopy, understory and shrub layers.
NC State Extension’s native-plant landscaping guidance and Penn State Extension’s wildlife-friendly plant spotlights offer starting points, but local recommendations should guide the final selection.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- 🌿 Native Hardy Landscape Shrub: Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) is a hardy North American native shrub known for its adaptability and strong growth in a wide range of climates and soil conditions.
- 🍇 Produces Edible Dark Berries: The plant produces clusters of sweet, dark blue-black berries in late summer and fall that can be eaten fresh or used in jams, syrups, and baked goods.
- 🐝 Excellent for Pollinators and Wildlife: Spring flowers attract bees and beneficial pollinators, while the nutritious berries provide food for birds and wildlife.
- 🌳 Multi-Season Interest: Enjoy creamy white spring blossoms, lush green foliage through summer, colorful berries in fall, and attractive branching structure in winter.
- 🏡 Ideal for Landscaping and Natural Gardens: Perfect for hedges, wildlife gardens, native plant landscapes, or natural screening. A beautiful and functional addition to yards, gardens, and outdoor spaces.
Rank #3
- Grow a Stunning Native Shrub – Beautyberry seeds are perfect for native gardens, ornamental landscapes, wildlife habitats, flowering shrubs, landscape borders, hedges, pollinator gardens, and naturalized plantings. Mature shrubs produce graceful branches covered with brilliant purple berries that create one of the most colorful displays in the fall landscape.
- Beautiful Flowers Become Brilliant Berries – Small pink to lavender flowers bloom during summer before developing into vibrant clusters of glossy purple berries that surround the stems. The colorful fruit often remains on the branches well into fall, extending seasonal interest long after flowering has ended.
- A Favorite for Wildlife & Landscapes – Bright berry clusters provide an important late-season food source for birds while adding exceptional ornamental value to the landscape. Beautyberry is an excellent choice for native plantings, wildlife gardens, hedgerows, and decorative landscape borders.
- Easy to Grow & Highly Adaptable – Cold stratify seeds before planting for improved germination. Plants thrive in full sun to partial shade and adapt to a variety of well-drained soils. Once established, Beautyberry is drought tolerant and requires very little maintenance.
- 100 Premium Seeds – Includes 100 premium seeds for multiple plantings throughout the season. An excellent choice for gardeners looking to establish colorful native shrubs that provide ornamental beauty, wildlife value, and brilliant fall berry displays.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
