Feed the Birds

Cedar Waxwing on Crabapple

Attracting birds to your yard requires several components including shelter, water and most importantly…FOOD.  Over 55 million Americans feed wild birds and spend more than $5 billion a year on bird food.  Supplement that grub with some plantings that birds love.  Here are several trees, shrubs and perennials to choose from….

Female Cardinal on Juniper

TREES

• Maples (Acer Sp.) – Seeds
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) – Berries
• Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) – Berries
• Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) – Berries
• Corneliancherry Dogwood (Cornus mas) – Berries
• Crabapple (Malus spp.) – Buds, fruit, seeds
• Amur Chokecherry (Prunus Maackii)– Black cherry

Goldfinch on Black-eyed Susan

SHRUBS

• Chokeberry (Aronia spp.) – Berries
• Button Bush (Cephalanthus occdentalis) – Nutlets
• Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus spp.) – Berries
• Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) – Berries
• Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) – Nectar
• Sumac (Rhus spp.) – Berries in clusters
• Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) – Berries

Chickadee on Sumac

 

 

CONIFERS

• Juniper (Juniperus spp.) – Berry-like cones
• Larch (Larix spp.) – Seed bearing cones
• Spruce (Picea spp.) – Seed bearing cones

 

PERENNIALS

 

• Coneflower (Echinacea spp.) – Seeds
• Coralbells (Heuchera spp.) – Nectar (Hummingbirds)
• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia spp.) – Nectar
• Bee Balm (Monarda spp.) – Nectar and seeds
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) – Seeds
• Little Blue Stem (Schizachyrium spp.) – Seeds
• Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) – Seeds
• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) – Seeds

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Honeysuckle Vine