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Gardening for Birds with Native Plants by Jim Green of Lycoming Audubon Society
In conjunction with the Audubon at Home program promoted by both Audubon Pennsylvania and National Audubon, the Lycoming Audubon Society encourages all of us to give careful consideration to the flora we introduce and maintain on our own properties. Plants native to your specific region are generally easy to grow and maintain, and they play an important part of regional ecosystems--which includes birds, insects, mammals, other animals and flora.
Below are a number of plants native to north-central Pennsylvania (and typically adjacent regions as well) that are especially attractive to birds.
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Silky Dogwood,
Cornus
amomum
One bird-friendly shrub worthy of your
consideration is Silky Dogwood, Cornus amomum. Native to Pennsylvania
and surrounding states, Silky Dogwood is easy to grow and is one of the
fastest growing native shrubs. Its whitish flowers in May or June are quite
an attraction, even though they are smaller than that of its more famous and
larger cousin, Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). Much more
appealing, from an avian point of view, are the prolific metallic blue
berries that ripen in late August and September. Catbirds, mockingbirds,
cardinals, and many other species munch on these delicacies. Come October,
Silky Dogwood dazzles us with lovely purple and red leaves, followed by
reddish stems that last the winter.
Due to its rapid growth, I recommend buying Silky Dogwood as seedlings no
more than 1 or 2 feet tall. According to 'Native Plants of the Northeast'
(Leopold, 2005), it can also be propagated by “softwood cuttings” or started
from seeds that have been exposed to 3 or 4 months of low temperature. It
will do well in either full or partial sunlight and though it prefers moist
soil, it has prospered in the moderately dry soil of my backyard. This is a
shrub that will grow as much horizontally as it will vertically – up to 10
or 12 feet, so allow plenty of room for it to expand. For a hedge, place
plants every 3 or 4 feet apart.
Serviceberry
Serviceberry is a small tree native to Pennsylvania with multiple
attractions. In the spring, lovely white flowers adorn its slender branches,
though the flowering period is short. Soon after, berries start to form and
later ripen during late May and June, which explains one of its nicknames:
Juneberry. Mockingbirds, cedar waxwings, catbirds and other species savor
the reddish-purple berries, which can also be safely enjoyed by humans. I
admit that I find them quite tasty! Come autumn, when the angle of sunlight
lowers and nights turn chilly, serviceberry’s alternate leaves turn
beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Three species of serviceberry trees occur naturally in the Commonwealth: Amelanchier arborea or Downy Serviceberry, Amelanchier canadensis or Shadbush Serviceberry, and Amelanchier laevis or Allegheny Serviceberry. According to "The Plants of Pennsylvania" (Rhodes & Block, 2000) Shadbush Serviceberry grows naturally only in the southeastern counties, whereas the other two species occur throughout our state. In the wild, these trees usually have multiple trunks and don’t grow much larger than 15 to 30 feet tall. I have observed several healthy single-trunked specimens on city streets in Williamsport and on the Penn College Main Campus. They grow in both damp and dry soil and need at least partial sunshine to flourish. There also are other Amelanchier species classified as shrubs.
Why not add a Serviceberry or two to your property? Once established, they need little maintenance and will not overwhelm a small yard with their modest size. Because their fruit matures so early in the growing your neighborhood birds and perhaps your human neighbors will appreciate the late spring delicacies. Our Williamsport native plant retailer, Ironwood Acres Nursery, sells Amelanchier laevis and Amelanchier candanensis, and most other nurseries that specialize in native plants also sell Serviceberries. Sometimes, you can also find them at other nurseries and tree farms. Amelanchier is one of the native species that National Audubon recommends to provide food and cover for one of our favorite songsters, the Wood Thrush.
Black Elderberry
Black Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, is a native shrub that is
quite easy to grow and care for. It requires at least partial sunlight and
prefers soil that does not become dry.
If not pruned, this shrub reaches top heights of up to 15 feet and can extend almost as wide, so be sure to plant it in a location where it has ample room to expand. Like some other shrubs, it can spread by suckering. Most nurseries that specialize in native plants sell Black Elderberry, including Ironwood Acres Nursery in Williamsport. Musser’s Forests, Inc., a large nursery in western Pennsylvania (from which I’ve purchased many native plants) sells seedlings in bundles of five or more. A closely related species that also grows rapidly and may be just as attractive to birds is Red Elderberry, Sambucus pubens.
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis
This is a beautiful native plant that hummingbirds love. Many of us are especially fond of these tiniest of birds. We marvel at their rapid wingbeats, incredible ability to hover, and their seemingly endless endurance. One of the best wildflowers whose nectar attracts Ruby-throated (and other species of) Hummingbirds is Cardinal Flower, Lobelia Cardinalis. This spectacular plant, native to Pennsylvania and surrounding states, grows up to 5 feet tall and produces an array of crimson red flowers along its long, narrow stalk.
Cardinal Flower loves moisture, so be sure to keep the soil moist if you plant it in soil that sometimes dries out. It does grow well in partially shaded sites, though the greatest flower display occurs on sunny locations with damp soil. Cardinal Flower is not the easiest plant to grow and it may take a year or two after planting to become accustomed to your yard, but its lovely long-lived flowers in mid and late summer make the care you give it worthwhile. It is a prolific seed-producer, so once it beomes established, expect volunteers to emerge!
A closely related species, Great Blue Lobelia, Lobelia siphilitica is similar in appearance and growing condtions, generally easier to establish in a new site, and produces light purple flowers which also attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Spicebush
Spicebush, Lindera benzoin, is a deciduous shrub native to Pennsylvania and all of the eastern states. One of its attractions is the early arrival of its abundant, small yellow flowers, typically in April, which are a welcome sight after a long, cold dormant season. Another attraction is its spicy aroma, which explains its name. Native Americans and early European-Americans made tea from its bark to treat colds, fevers, and other medical disorders.
In the "wild‟ Spicebush occurs in or at the edges of woodlands. In your garden, it will do best under shade or at least partial shade. Plant it in soil that retains moisture, though you may have success in dry soil if you water it regularly. Due to its dioecious nature (distinct male and female plants), it's best to add at least 3 or 4 separate plants for good fruit production. As summer grows old, oval green berries or drupes form on
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Small clusters of creamy white
flowers appear in late spring or early summer and are followed by a
proliferation of small, dark purple berries. Dozens of bird species relish
those juicy elderberries in late summer. Black Elderberry, also called
American Elder, is one of the fastest growing native shrubs around. In 2005,
I purchased two plants, each about 18 inches tall. Other than adding compost
at the start of each growing season and watering them during dry weeks, all
I’ve done is watch them grow. And grow they have! Toward the end of the 2006
growing season, they were six feet tall and provided a great crop of
berries. The 2007 and 2010 growing seasons were quite dry at times, so I watered my
Elders more often and was again rewarded with a plentiful crop of berries.
In fact, a parent and young Grey Catbird spent much of an entire week in
August, 2007 feasting on them! In the years since, additional Catbird families have enjoyed these delicacies.
female plants and then turn bright red as they ripen. These berries, while ignored by some birds, are favorites of the Wood Thrush and Veery, and are food for at least 13 other species (per Stephen Kress of National Audubon).