Here are three more native woody plants that attract overwintering birds in our area:
 Viburnum trilobum from finegardening.com |
Viburnum trilobum, Cranberry Bush Viburnum, sports a clear red berry resembling a cranberry that persists in the cold weather. It is low in lipids, so birds like Cedar Waxwings will choose it in late winter when they are desperate for nourishment. This plant grows up to 15′ tall and will sucker some, so keep it away from a foundation bed. Plant it at a distance where you can view it from a window. Perfect for a woodland edge or hedgerow situation. |
 Rhus typhina from wikipedia.org |
Rhus typhina, Staghorn Sumac, is another plant for an outlying edge as it suckers quite freely. Around 98 species of birds enjoy its fruits, growing in reddish clusters at the end of fuzzy branches. This plant will also colonize sandy or rocky waste areas. It can be contained by regular mowing. Staghorn sumac is extremely tall, reaching 10′-30.’ |
 Crataegus viridis |
Crataegus viridis, Green Hawthorne, has persistent red fruits all winter long. In the rose family like the non-native crabapple, hawthornes are vase shaped, wide spreading small trees with four season interest. Hawthornes do have thorns, so birds like them for nesting as thorns discourage predators. |
