Holly Shrubs for Birds

Winterberries

• The winterberry (Ilex verticullata) attracts at least 12 bird species, including the cedar waxwing and the red-winged blackbird, says the Scott Arboretum. This deciduous holly grows as a shrub or tree, reaching heights up to 15 feet depending on the cultivar. They have dark foliage that turns purple in fall and long-lasting, bright-red berries. Winterberries are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 9 and grow in sun or partial shade and moist, fertile soil. Bird-attracting shrub varieties include the "Afterglow," a 10-foot tall shrub that bears orange-red fruits, and "Shaver," a 5-foot-tall shrub with pale-green foliage. Birds tend to avoid the "Chrysocarpa," a 10-foot-tall cultivar that produces yellow berries.

American Holly

• American hollies (Ilex opaca) attract songbirds such as Northern cardinals, says Clemson Cooperative Extension. These North American native hollies grow as trees or shrubs and have lustrous, evergreen foliage, offset by bright red berries. The species reaches heights to 50 feet and grows as a pyramidal-shaped tree with dense foliage. American hollies are hardy in USDA zones 5b to 9 and grow best in sunny sites with moist, acidic soil. Bird-attracting cultivars include "'Claredon Spreading," a 12-foot-tall and wide shrub with olive-green foliage and orange-red berries. This American holly shrub is hardy in USDA 7 to 9 and grows best in partial shade.

Yaupon Holly

• The yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) provides both food and a place to take cover. This evergreen grows as a large shrub or tree, reaching heights of 25 feet. Its gray-green foliage is offset by bright red or yellow berries, but only female plants bear fruit. Yaupon hollies are hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and grow well in a range of soil types and exposures. "Pendula" has a weeping form and produces wildlife-attracting red fruits. Bird-attracting shrub yaupons include the "Nana," a 5-foot-tall dwarf cultivar that has dark leaves and produces long-lasting red berries. Hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10, this dense shrub tolerates both drought and salty soil.

Other Hollies for Birds

• Other bird-attracting hollies include the "Nellie R. Stevens" (Ilex x "Nellie R. Stevens"), a fast-growing evergreen hybrid that's hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9. This evergreen shrub or tree has glossy, dark leaves and bears red fruits. The Burford holly (lex cornuta "Burfordii") also attracts songbirds. This 20-foot-tall shrub has bears an abundance of long-lasting, red berries and is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. Female possumhaw trees (Ilex decidua) are native to North America and draw birds with their orange-red fall fruits. These deciduous hollies grow up to 20 feet when they're planted in shady sites and are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9a.