Native Nut and Fruit-Bearing Plants for Birds and Mammals

Planting fruit- and nut-bearing plants in your yard is one of the most effective ways to create a haven for birds and mammals. These native shrubs provide essential food sources, including berries, seeds, and nuts, that support wildlife throughout the year, especially during migration and winter months when resources are scarce. In addition to their nutritional benefits, these shrubs offer shelter, nesting sites, and protection from predators, making them invaluable for fostering biodiversity. These native species attract and support a wide diversity of insects and their caterpillars also providing additional food sources for visiting birds. By incorporating these species into your landscape, you not only enhance its beauty but also create a thriving ecosystem right in your backyard. Please note many of these listed species are not edible for humans.

Shrubs

Alleghany Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis): Berries are a summer treat for thrushes, sparrows, and cedar waxwings.

American Hazelnut (Corylus americana): Offers nuts for woodpeckers, jays, and squirrels, while its dense foliage provides cover for nesting birds.

American Plum (Prunus americana): Its fruit attracts a variety of songbirds, including mockingbirds and jays.

Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum): Blue-black berries feed wood thrushes, catbirds, and other birds in late summer and fall.

Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta): Produces small nuts eaten by grouse, turkeys, and blue jays; excellent for woodland bird habitats.

Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa): Berries are eaten by robins, bluebirds, and other fall migratory birds.

Black Currant (Ribes nigrum): Produces berries favoured by finches and sparrows.

Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): Clusters of small berries are devoured by robins, mockingbirds, and other songbirds.

Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis): Black raspberries feed robins and waxwings and are ideal for supporting ground-nesting birds.

Canada Plum (Prunus nigra): Plums feed birds like grosbeaks and orioles, while the tree offers excellent shelter.

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana): Fruits are essential food for orioles, tanagers, and grosbeaks in late summer.

Dogwoods (Cornus spp.): White or blue berries nourish warblers, woodpeckers, and cardinals, and their branches offer shelter.

Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum): Red berries persist into winter, offering vital cold-season food for cardinals and waxwings.

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago): Provides berries in late fall that feed robins, cedar waxwings, and other fruit-loving birds.

Maple-Leaved Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium): Berries attract migrating birds like thrushes and vireos, while its thickets provide nesting sites.

Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina): Produces hips consumed by birds during fall and winter and provides cover.

Purple-Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus): Provides edible fruit for birds and dense foliage for nesting.

Red Currant (Ribes rubrum): Bright red berries attract robins, thrushes, and other songbirds.

Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa): Bright red berries are popular with grosbeaks, thrushes, and woodpeckers.

Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.): Early summer fruits are loved by orioles, bluebirds, catbirds and cedar waxwings and many more.

Wild Raisin (Viburnum nudum): Its dark berries are a favorite of songbirds, including thrushes and grosbeaks.

Wild Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus): Raspberries attract thrushes, , and catbirds, while the thickets provide nesting cover.

Yellow Currant (Ribes aureum): Golden berries support a variety of berry-eating birds like thrashers and waxwings.

Smooth Rose (Rosa blanda): Rose hips offer winter food for waxwings and finches, while the thorny stems protect nests.

Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris): Supports wetland birds with its nutritious hips and thicket-like growth.

Shrubby Groundcover

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) – Low-growing evergreen shrub with red berries and pinkish flowers, providing food for grouse and other ground-feeding birds (10–20 cm).

Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) – Creeping evergreen groundcover with white flowers and bright red berries, eaten by songbirds and game birds (5–10 cm).

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) – Compact evergreen with white flowers and red berries, supporting grouse, wild turkeys, and small mammals (10–15 cm).

Trees

American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana) – Small tree with orange-red berries relished by waxwings and grouse (6–12 m).

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) – Nut-producing tree supporting woodpeckers, jays, and squirrels, with high wildlife value (20–30 m).

Cherries (Prunus spp.) – Trees including Black Cherry, Choke Cherry and Pin Cherry produce fruits loved by robins, cedar waxwings, and other songbirds (5–20 m).

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) – Hardy tree with small fruits eaten by waxwings, cardinals, and other birds (9–18 m).

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) – Thorny shrub or small tree with berries loved by waxwings, thrushes, and robins (4–8 m).

Hickories (Carya spp.) – Nut-bearing trees feeding woodpeckers, turkeys, and squirrels; caterpillar host for birds (15–25 m).

Oaks (Quercus spp.) – Majestic trees producing acorns that support woodpeckers, jays, turkeys, and other wildlife (15–30 m).

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) – Small tree with edible fruits supporting mammals and birds like blue jays (4–9 m).

Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) – Evergreen tree with blue berries supporting waxwings, thrushes, and sparrows (10–20 m).

Herbaceous

Baneberries (Actaea spp.) – Toxic to humans, with red or white berries consumed by thrushes and other birds (30–90 cm).

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) – Woodland perennial with blue berries eaten by wild turkeys and small mammals (30–90 cm).

Ground Cherry (Physalis spp.) – Low-growing plant with edible fruits for birds like sparrows and thrashers (30–60 cm).

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) – Spreading woodland plant with yellow fruits eaten by box turtles and some birds (30–45 cm).

Solomon’s Seals (Polygonatum spp.) – Graceful arching plants with berries enjoyed by thrushes and grouse (30–90 cm).

Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) – Large perennial with clusters of dark berries eaten by thrushes and other songbirds (60–120 cm).

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) – Low-growing plant with small red fruits enjoyed by robins, sparrows, and other ground-feeding birds (10–20 cm).

Vines

American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) – Twining vine with vibrant orange-red berries eaten by robins and finches (4–6 m).

Carrion Flower (Smilax herbacea) – Climbing vine with greenish flowers and black berries eaten by thrushes and sparrows (2–3 m).

Honeysuckle (Lonicera Spp.) Glaucous and Hairy Honeysuckles support a variety of birds, including hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and songbirds, by providing nectar, berries, and shelter.

Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia) – Vigorous climber with small fruits relished by cardinals, robins, and other birds (6–10 m).

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) – Fast-growing vine with blue-black berries that attract woodpeckers, thrushes, and waxwings (6–10 m).

Learn more about these species under our Native Plant Inventory Page. Contact us to confirm availability and size of stock for desired species.