Shrubs That Birds Like

Shrubs for Food

• There are almost limitless varieties of shrubs and small trees attractive to birds for their fruits. Growing North American natives like the dogwoods (Cornus species), Carolina buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana) blueberries (Vaccinium species), hollies (Ilex species), mulberry (Morus species), sumac (Rhus species), blackberries (Rubus species) and viburnums (Viburnum species) will ensure that the favorite foods of native bird species are available to them. This may even help to deter non-native bird species such as starlings that often out compete many North American native birds for available food.

Shrubs for Shelter

• For colder climates, evergreen shrubs provide dense foliage to protect birds from harsh winds and freezing rain, when winter comes around. The common juniper or eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a tree that may be kept to shrub proportions, and it provides dense cover as well as lovely blue berries that cedar waxwings and cardinals particularly relish. Pines of many varieties also provide winter shelter and nutritious pine nuts (pinecone seeds) as well. Other evergreens that shelter our winged friends include wax myrtle or southern bayberry (Morella cerifula), another native shrub, several evergreen rhododendrons (Rhododendron species) and many evergreen hollies (Ilex species).

Shrubs for Nesting

• Although a lot of birds nest high in large trees, many species---such as the eastern bluebird and several buntings, among others---prefer shrubs or limbs as low as 3 or 4 feet off the ground. Multiple branched shrubs with dense cover are usually preferred for nesting over more open bushes. Besides cedar, heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) is a beautiful evergreen with dense, though finely toothed foliage. It is not a true bamboo, and is evergreen in areas where temperatures do not drop below 10 degrees F, according to The Garden Helper. The hollies, in addition to offering many evergreen varieties and edible berries, are also useful as nesting shrubs due to the formidable nature of their prickly leaves, which act as deterrents to predators. The same may be said for gooseberries (Ribes species) and multiflora roses (Rosa species), both of which also provide edible fruits.

Shrubs for Harsh Conditions

• Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is a winter flowering deciduous shrub, attractive to birds and capable of surviving extreme growing conditions. Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) withstands both heat and cold, is drought tolerant, and produces berries that birds love. Spicewood (Calyptranthes pallens) is a native of Florida that withstands both drought and salt conditions, and provides purple fruits for birds to eat in season. All of these are very attractive to birds.