Native Shrubs and Trees for Wildlife
Adapted from Friends of the Coves
The following is a list of native shrubs and trees that provide food and/or shelter for birds and mammals.
Rating: E = Excellent; G = Good; F = Fair
Summer Food Sources
.
Rating
Scientific Name
Common Name
G
F
G
E
F
F
F
G
F
E
E
E
E
E
G
G
G
E
E
E
G
E
E
F
E
Acer rubrum
Acer saccharinum
Acer saccharum
Amelanchier spp.
Betula alleghaniensis
Betula papryifera
Ostrya virginiana
Physocarpus opulifolius
Populus deltoides
Prunus americana
Prunus nigra
Prunus pensylvanica
Prunus serotina
Prunus virginiana
Ribes americanum
Ribes cynosbati
Ribes hirtellum
Rubus allegheniensis
Rubus idaeus
Rubus occidentalis
Salix exilgua
Sambucus canadensis
Sambucus pubens
Tilia americana
Vitis riparia
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
Serviceberry/Saskatoon
Yellow Birch
White Birch
Hop-horn Beam/Ironwood
Ninebark
Cottonwood
Wild Plum
Canada Plum
Pin Cherry
Black Cherry
Choke Cherry
Black Currant
Prickly Gooseberry
Swamp or Smooth Gooseberry
Blackberry
Red Raspberry
Black Raspberry
Sandbar Willow
American Elderberry
Red Elderberry
Basswood
Riverbank Grape
Riverbank Grape
Vitis riparia
Black Raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
Serviceberry
Amelanchier spp.
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Red Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
Fall Food Sources
Rating
Scientific Name
Common Name
G
G
F
E
E
E
E
E
E
G
E
E
G
E
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Cornus alternifolia
Cornus canadensis
Cornus racemosa
Cornus rugosa
Cornus stolonifera
Fraxinus americana
Fraxinus nigra
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Helianthus divaricatus
Ilex verticillata
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Shepherdia canadensis
Sorbus americana
Bearberry
Pagoda or Alternate-leaf Dogwood
Bunchberry
Gray Dogwood
Round-leaved Dogwood
Red-osier Dogwood
White Ash*
Black Ash*
Green Ash*
Woodland Sunflower
Winterberry
Virginia Creeper
Buffalo Berry
American Mountain Ash
*Not currently recommend for planting due to Emerald Ash Borer
Alternate-leaf Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Woodland Sunflower
Helianthus divaricatus
Winter Food Sources
Rating
Scientific Name
Common Name
G
E
E
E
E
F
E
F
E
G
G
G
E
Aronia melanocarpa
Celastrus scandens
Celtis occidentalis
Crataegus spp.
Junoperus virginiana
Populus grandidentata
Populus tremuloides
Rhus aromatica
Rhus typhina
Rosa blanda
Rosa carolina
Viburnum lentago
Viburnum trilobum
Chokeberry
Bittersweet
Hackberry
Hawthorn
Eastern Red Cedar
Large Toothed Aspen
Quaking Aspen
Fragrant Sumac
Staghorn Sumac
Meadow Rose
Pasture Rose
Nannyberry
American High-bush Cranberry
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Meadow Rose
Rosa blanda
Evergreens for Winter Cover
Rating
Scientific Name
Common Name
E
E
E
E
E
F
E
Juniperus virginiana
Larix laricina
Picea glauca
Pinus resinosa
Punus strobus
Thuja occidentalis
Tsuga canadensis
Eastern Red Cedar
Tamarack
White Spruce
Red Pine
White Pine
White Cedar
Hemlock
White Cedar
Thuja occidentalis
Plants for Bee and Butterfly Habitat
(Adapted from ReForest London)
Legend
Soil: (A) – All, (S) – Sand, (L) – Loam, (C) – Clay
Sun: (F) – Full Sun, (P) – Part Shade, (S) – Shade
Moisture: (W) – Wet, (M) – Medium, (D) – Dry
Scientific Name
Common Name
Soil
Sun
Moisture
Apocynum cannabinum
Asclepias incarnata
Asclepias syriaca
Asclepias tuberosa
Aster laevis
Bidens vulgata
Ceanothus americanus
Cercis canadensis
Cirsium discolor
Coreopsis lanceolata
Coreopsis tripteris
Echinacea pallida
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Fragaria virginiana
Helianthus divaricatus
Iris versicolor
Liatris aspera
Lythrum alatum
Monarda fisulosa
Prunus nigra
Pteleo trifoliate
Ratibida pinnata
Rhus aromatica
Rubus canadensis
Solidago caesia
Taraxacum ceratophorum
Trifolium reflexum
Vaccinium angustifolium
Verbena hasata
Vicia americana
Vicia caroliniana
Zanthoxylum americanum
Indian Hemp
Swamp Milkweed
Common Milkweed
Butterfly Milkweed
Smooth Blue Aster
Tall Bur-Marigold
New Jersey Tea
Redbud
Field Thistle
Lance-leaved Coreopsis
Tall Coreopsis
Pale-purple Coneflower
Common Bonset
Strawberry
Woodland Sunflower
Blueflag
Rough Blazing Star
Winged Loosestrife
Wild Bergamot/Beebalm
Canada Plum
Common Hoptree
Grey-headed Coneflower
Fragrant Sumac
Smooth Blackberry
Bluestem Goldenrod
Horned Dandelion
Buffalo Clover
Late Lowbush Blueberry
Blue Vernain
Purple Vetch
Wood Vetch
Prickly Ash
A
A
A
A
L
L
S
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
L
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
S
A
A
A
A
A
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
P
P
F
F
F
P
P
P
P
F
F
P
P
P
F
F
P
P
F
F
P
F
F
F
P
M
W
M
M
D
M
D
M
D
D
M
D
W
D
M
W
D
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
D
M
M
M
M
M
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Lance-leaved Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Canada Plum
Prunus nigra
Native and Drought-Tolerant Plants
(Reproduced from the City of Guelph)
Full Sun
Perennials
Anaphalis margaritacea
Asclepias tuberosa
Aster ericoies
Aster novae-angliae
Campanula rotundifolia
Chamerion angustifolium
Coreopsis lanceoleolata
Desmodium canaense
Echinacea pallida
Euphorbia corollata
Fragaria virginiana
Geum triflorum
Liatris aspera
Lupinus perennis
Monarda punctata
Oenothera biennis
Opuntia humifusa
Penstemon hirsutus
Pycanthemum tenuifolium
Ratibida pinnata
Silpium laciniatum
Suphium terribinthinaceum
Solidago rigida
Solidago speciosa
Verbena stricta
Shrubs
Pearly Everlasting
Butterflyweed
Heath Aster
New England Aster
Bluebells/Harebells
Fireweed
Lance-leaf Coreopsis
Showy Tick Trefoil
Pale Purple Coneflower
Flowering Spruge
Wild Strawberry
Prairie Smoke
Rough Blazing-star
Wild Lupine
Horse Mint
Evening Primrose
Eastern Prickly-pear
Hairy Beardtongue
Hairy Mountain-mint
Yellow Coneflower
Compass-plant
Prairie Dock
Stiff Goldenrod
Showy Goldenrod
Hoary Vervain
Amelanchier alnifolia
Caenothus americanus
Junperius communus
Prunus pumila
Rosa carolina
Shepherdia canadensis
Zanthoxylum americanum
Saskatoon Berry
New Jersey Tea
Common Juniper
Sand Cherry
Carolina Rose
Buffaloberry
Prickly Ash
Trees
Acer rubrum
Gleditsia triacanthos
Gymnocladus dioica
Juglans nigra
Juniperus virginiana
Picea glauca
Pinus resinosa
Pinus strobus
Platanus occidentalis
Quercus alba
Quercus macrocarpa
Red Maple
Honey-locust
Kentucky Coffee-tree
Black Walnut
Eastern Red Cedar
White Spruce
Red Pine
White Pine
American Sycamore
White Oak
Burr Oak
Vines
Celastrus scandens
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
American Bittersweet
Virginia Creeper
Grasses
Andropogon geradii
Bouteloua curtipendula
Elymus canadensis
Panicum virgatum
Schizarchyrium scoparium
Sorghastrum nutans
New England Aster
Aster novae-angliae
Big Bluestem
Sideoats Grama
Canada Wild Rye
Switch Grass
Little Bluestem
Indian Grass
Evening Primrose
Oenothera biennis
Hairy Beardtongue
Penstemon hirsutus
New Jersey Tea
Caenothus americanus
Native and Drought-Tolerant Plants
(Reproduced from the City of Guelph)
Part Sun/Shade
Perennials
Allium cernuum
Aster laevis
Aster oolentangiensis
Campanula americana
Coreeopsis tripteris
Desmodium canadense
Helianthus divaricatus
Heliopsis helianthoides
Mainthemum stellatum
Monarda fistulosa
Pernstemon digitalis
Rudbeckia hirta
Tradescantia ohioensis
Trees
Nodding Wild Onion
Smooth Blue Aster
Sky Blue Aster
Tall Bellflower
Tall Coreopsis
Showy Tick Trefoil
Woodland Sunflower
False Sunflower
Starry False Solomon's Seal
Wild Bergamot
Foxflove Beardtongue
Black-eyed Susan
Ohio Spiderwort
Ferns
Pteridium aquilinum
Western Brackenfern
Acer saccharum
Aesculus glabra
Amelanchier arborea
Amelanchier laevis
Carya cordiformis
Carya ovata
Celtis occidentalis
Cercis canadensis
Crataegus crusgalli
Fraxinus americana
Faxinus pensylvanicum
Liriodendron tulipifera
Malus coronaria
Prunus serotina
Ptelia trifoliata
Quercus rubra
Thuja occidentalis
Black Maple
Ohio Buckeye
Smooth Serviceberry
Downy Serviceberry
Bitternut Hickory
Shagbark Hickory
Hackberry
Eastern Redbud
Cockspur Hawthorn
White Ash*
Green Ash*
Tulip Tree
Wild Crabapple
Black Cherry
Common Hoptree
Red Oak
Eastern White Cedar
Shrubs
Aesculus parviflora
Cornus racemosa
Cornus stolonifera
Corylus americana
Juniperus horizontalis
Physocarpus opulifolius
Potentilla fruticosa
Prunus americana
Prunus virginiana
Rhus aromatica
Rosa blanda
Rosa setigera
Taxus canadensis
Virburnum dentatum
Western Brackenfern
Pteridium aquilinum
Bottlebrush Buckeye
Grey Dogwood
Red-Osier Bodwood
Ameriacn Hazel
Creeping Juniper
Ninebark
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Wild Plum
Chokecherry
Fragrant Sumac
Smoth Rose
Climbining Prairie Rose
Canadian Yew
Arrowwood
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia ohioensis
Vines
Campsis radicans
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Vitis riparia
Showy-tick Trefoil
Desmodium canadense
Trumpetvine
Virginia Creeper
Riverbank Grape
Arrowwood
Virburnum dentatum
Native and Drought-Tolerant Plants
(Reproduced from the City of Guelph)
Shade
Perennials
Actaea rubra
Anemone canadensis
Asarum canadense
Aster macrophyllus
Clematis virginiana
Frageria virginiana
Geranium maculatum
Helianthus divaricatus
Maianthemum racemosum
Phlox divaricata
Podophyllum peltatum
Polygonatum biflorum
Solidago flexicaulis
Red Baneberry
Canada Anemone
Wild Ginger
Large-leaf Aster
Virgin's Bower
Wild Strawberry
Wild Geranium
Woodland Sunflower
False Solomon's Seal
Wild Blue Phlox
Mayapple
Soloman's Seal
Zig Zag Goldenrod
Wild Strawberry
Frageria virginiana
Bulbs
Claytonia virginica
Erythornium americanum
Spring Beauty
Trout Lily
Ferns
Adiantum pedatum
Polystichum acrostichoides
Nothern Maidenhair
Christmas Fern
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Grasses
Elymus hystrix
Bottlebrush Grass
Shrubs
Cornus alternifolia
Cornus rugosa
Hamemalis virginiana
Prunus virginiana
Ribes americanum
Sambucus canadensis
Virburnum acerifolium
Alternative Dogwood
Round-leafed Dogwood
Witch-hazel
Choke Cherry
Black Currant
American Elder
Mapleleaf Viburnum
Solomon’s Seal
Polygonatum biflorum
Vines
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia Creeper
Trees
Acer saccharum
Cercis canadensis
Tsuga canadensis
Sugar Maple
Eastern Redbud
Hemlock
Bottlebush Grass
Elymus hystrix