
Shrubs can diversify wildlife habitat planting schemes and are easy
to incorporate on any property. To visualize how shrub planting
increases habitat diversity, think of a forest.
Typically, forests include (1) tall trees (canopy), (2) smaller
trees and shrubs (sub-canopy) and (3) herbaceous plants and ground
covers (understory). Unless forested tracts are already present,
most properties have only trees and ground covers, often lawns, with
little in between. Planting shrubs then becomes a way to attract
those wildlife species that need this plant layer to satisfy their
habitat needs.
Shrubs as Habitat
Shrubs can serve as habitat in many ways. Flowering shrubs can
produce nectar to feed bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Berry-producing can shrubs feed songbirds, upland game birds and
many mammals including deer, squirrel, fox and chipmunks. Wild
animals use leaves, twigs and buds of the plant itself for food.
Shrubs can also provide shelter from predators or extreme weather,
or to nest and raise young, especially when massed. Evergreen,
thorny or dense-branching shrubs usually offer the best shelter.
When selecting shrubs, it is important to keep in mind the flowering
and fruiting nature of the species. Try to incorporate shrubs that
produce berries at different times of the year so that a food supply
is always present for berry-eating wildlife. Some shrubs are
dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are born on separate
plants. So, if your goal for a dioecious shrub is to have it produce
berries, then it is important to plant both a male and female shrub
for pollination.
Where to Plant Shrubs
Landscaping uses for shrubs are as varied as the choice of plants.
Shrubs may be planted around the foundation of the house or as
borders that serve as backdrops for perennial and annual plants. On
large tracts, shrubs can be planted along cropland and forest edges
or incorporated into hedgerows of trees and shrubs. Hedgerows
planted between cropland provide connectors or wildlife travel lanes
between larger blocks of contiguous habitat (i.e. forest, fallow
fields or wetland habitats). Linking these larger blocks is
increasingly important as suitable wildlife habitat becomes
fragmented by development. Incorporating evergreen and
thicket-forming shrubs in hedgerows ensures that shelter components
of habitat are met.
Selection of Shrubs
Before purchasing a shrub or two, consider several criteria before
making a purchase. First, determine the shrub's purpose: Do you want
the shrub to provide food, cover or both? Second, choose plants that
are compatible with the site. Be sure to research light and soil
conditions required for your shrub. Third, consider maintenance
needs of the desired species. Shrubs planted near the house can be
watered easily during dry weather but watering may not be practical
in large scale plantings on farms. Pruning can also be done easily
in backyard situations but is not practical in large scale
plantings. As a general rule, only light pruning is recommended for
shrub wildlife plantings because there is a danger of pruning away
future food supplies if done at the wrong time of year. Pruning also
reduces the plants usefulness as wildlife shelter; backyard wildlife
shrubs should be allowed to attain a natural form. Some
vigorously-growing shrubs respond well by being cut back to six
inches in the fall and will grow even bushier than before. Local
nursery or garden center personnel can advise you on what shrubs to
select depending on the intended need.
Wildlife Shrubs
The following list includes shrubs native to Maryland that produce
berries consumed by various species of wildlife. It is good to
select plants that fruit at different times of the year so your
property offers food throughout the year. The types of wildlife
attracted (birds, small mammals and/or beneficial insects) are
highlighted for each species. Shrubs that have more detailed
information in the Habi-Chat archives are hyperlinked.
Plant Name |
Photo
|
Attracts
|
Berry Timing
|
Soil
|
Elderberry
(Sambucus canadensis) |
 |
 |
 |
|
Aug-Sept |
Dry-Wet |
Highbush blueberry
(Vaccinium corymbosum) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
July-Aug |
Dry-Wet |
Huckleberries
(Gaylussacia spp.) |
 |
 |
 |
|
July-Oct |
Dry-Wet |
Northern bayberry
(Morella pensylvanica) |
 |
 |
 |
|
Sept-April |
Dry-Wet |
Red chokeberry
(Photinia pyrifolia) |
 |
 |
 |
|
Sept-Dec |
Dry-Wet |
Red-osier dogwood
(Cornus sericea) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Aug |
|
Spicebush
(Lindera benzoin) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Sept-Oct |
Moist-Wet |
Sumacs
(Rhus spp.) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
July-Jan |
Dry-Moist |
Viburnums
(Viburnum spp.) |
 |
 |
 |
|
Aug-Dec |
Dry-Wet |
Winterberry
(Ilex verticillata)
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Aug-Feb |
Moist-Wet |
Invite Wildlife to Your Backyard!
For Additional Information, Contact:
Kerry Wixted
Wildlife and Heritage Service
580 Taylor Ave, E-1
Annapolis, MD 21401
kerry.wixted@maryland.gov
Phone: 410-260-8566
Fax: 410-260-8596
Acknowledgements:
- Photograph of Huckleberry shrub in meadow, courtesy of NPS, Photo by JR Douglass; 1970.
- Photograph of Bayberry with fruit, courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service
- Photograph of Red osier dogwood, by Richard A. Howard Image Collection, courtesy of Smithsonian Institution, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
- Photograph of Spice Bush foliage, courtesy of Tim McDowell Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University
- All other photographs by Kerry Wixted