Best Native Shrubs for Wildlife

Native shrubs do three things for wildlife simultaneously: they provide food (fruit, seeds, nectar, pollen), nesting structure (dense branching for birds, hollow stems for bees), and insect habitat (host plant relationships with caterpillars that are the base of the food chain). Non-native.

Native shrubs do three things for wildlife simultaneously: they provide food (fruit, seeds, nectar, pollen), nesting structure (dense branching for birds, hollow stems for bees), and insect habitat (host plant relationships with caterpillars that are the base of the food chain). Non-native ornamental shrubs generally do only the first to a limited degree, and rarely the third.

Per Penn State Extension, research on native plant value for wildlife shows that the insect community supported by native plants is 4–14 times more diverse and abundant than the insect community on introduced ornamentals in the same conditions. Since insects feed most birds (96% of terrestrial bird species feed insects to nestlings per work cited by Penn State), insect production is the primary measure of wildlife value.

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Top-Tier Wildlife Shrubs

Viburnum spp. — native species

Zones vary | Wildlife value: very high

Per NC State Extension, native viburnums support over 100 caterpillar species and produce blue-black berries consumed by more than 35 bird species. Key species:

• V. dentatum (arrowwood, zones 2–8, 6–10 feet, tolerates wet/dry)
• V. lentago (nannyberry, zones 2–8, 10–15 feet)
• V. prunifolium (blackhaw, zones 3–9, 12–15 feet, drought-tolerant)
• V. nudum (possumhaw, zones 5–9, 5–12 feet, tolerates wet soils)

All are native to eastern North America. All produce white flowers attractive to native bees before berries form.

Sambucus canadensis (American Elderberry)

Zones 3–9 | Mature: 5–12 feet | Wildlife value: exceptional

Per Missouri Botanical Garden, American elderberry produces large clusters of small purple-black berries in August–September that over 50 bird species consume. The flat-topped white flower clusters support over 40 native bee species. Dense branching structure provides nesting sites for many birds. Spreads by suckers — suitable for naturalistic mass plantings. Tolerates wet soils.

Cornus spp. — native dogwoods

Zones 3–9 | Wildlife value: very high

Per Penn State Extension, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida, zones 5–9) is one of the most important woody plants for migratory birds in the eastern US — its fat-rich red berries fuel long-distance fall migration. Pagoda dogwood (C. alternifolia, zones 3–7) similarly produces high-lipid berries. Both support numerous caterpillar species. Red-twig dogwood (C. sericea, zones 2–8) produces white berries consumed by birds and provides dense thicket nesting structure.

Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry)

Zones 4–9 | Mature: 6–8 feet | Wildlife value: high

Per Missouri Botanical Garden, red chokeberry produces persistent red berries that remain on the plant through much of winter, providing food when other sources are depleted. Cedar waxwings, bluebirds, and thrushes feed on the berries. White spring flowers support native bees. Vibrant red fall foliage. Native to eastern North America.

Ilex verticillata (Winterberry Holly)

Zones 3–9 | Mature: 6–10 feet | Wildlife value: high

Per NC State Extension, winterberry holly's brilliant red berries persist into winter and feed robins, bluebirds, cedar waxwings, and other frugivores. Requires one male plant per 3–5 females for fruit production. Native to eastern North America. Tolerates wet soils — useful for low-lying areas.

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