8 Essential Shrubs for Wildlife in the Great Lakes and Midwest
These beautiful native shrubs provide pollen and nectar for bees, and fruit and insects for birds
It’s easy to support multiple types of wildlife, such as birds and bees, when you use native plants in your landscape. Native plants have coevolved with native insects and host more insect biomass (which feeds birds) than nonnative plants. And they have been shown to be about four times more attractive to pollinators, including bees, than nonnative plants. So you essentially get a lot more wildlife-supporting bang for your buck when you use native plants in your garden.
These native shrubs not only offer gardeners attractive flowers, foliage and fruit, but they also provide the necessary sustenance so that birds and bees can produce the next generation. The majority of terrestrial birds feed insects to their offspring in the nest, usually some kind of caterpillar (butterfly or moth larva) or sawfly larva. These tasty, protein-rich insects have all the essential nutrients a young bird requires before fledging and leaving the nest. Female bees collect pollen and nectar from flowering plants and cache these floral resources in a prepared brood cell in their nest. By selecting some of the following plants for your landscape, you can sit back and watch the year-round activity that the bees and birds will provide.
Not in the Great Lakes? Browse plants native to other regions of the U.S.
These native shrubs not only offer gardeners attractive flowers, foliage and fruit, but they also provide the necessary sustenance so that birds and bees can produce the next generation. The majority of terrestrial birds feed insects to their offspring in the nest, usually some kind of caterpillar (butterfly or moth larva) or sawfly larva. These tasty, protein-rich insects have all the essential nutrients a young bird requires before fledging and leaving the nest. Female bees collect pollen and nectar from flowering plants and cache these floral resources in a prepared brood cell in their nest. By selecting some of the following plants for your landscape, you can sit back and watch the year-round activity that the bees and birds will provide.
Not in the Great Lakes? Browse plants native to other regions of the U.S.
2. Staghorn Sumac
(Rhus hirta)
Native to North America from Minnesota eastward to Maine and from Mississippi eastward to northern Georgia and eastern South Carolina; in Canada, native to southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
Bird notes. The bright red fruit from female flowers persists into winter and provides a food source for early-spring migrants such as male bluebirds and thrushes.
Pollinator notes. The flowers are unisexual (separate male and female plants). Both male and female plants attract pollinating insects, including beetles, flies, wasps, moths, butterflies and bees.
Female bees, including bumblebees (Bombus spp.), mining bees, small sweat bees and metallic green sweat bees, commonly collect pollen on male flowers. Other insect visitors can be observed feeding on the nectar of either male or female flowers.
Typical plant communities: Woodland edges, old fields and railway rights of way
Water requirement: Little to none once established; staghorn sumac is very drought-tolerant
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: 15 to 35 feet tall and 10 feet wide
See how to grow staghorn sumac
(Rhus hirta)
Native to North America from Minnesota eastward to Maine and from Mississippi eastward to northern Georgia and eastern South Carolina; in Canada, native to southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
Bird notes. The bright red fruit from female flowers persists into winter and provides a food source for early-spring migrants such as male bluebirds and thrushes.
Pollinator notes. The flowers are unisexual (separate male and female plants). Both male and female plants attract pollinating insects, including beetles, flies, wasps, moths, butterflies and bees.
Female bees, including bumblebees (Bombus spp.), mining bees, small sweat bees and metallic green sweat bees, commonly collect pollen on male flowers. Other insect visitors can be observed feeding on the nectar of either male or female flowers.
Typical plant communities: Woodland edges, old fields and railway rights of way
Water requirement: Little to none once established; staghorn sumac is very drought-tolerant
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: 15 to 35 feet tall and 10 feet wide
See how to grow staghorn sumac
3. Nannyberry
(Viburnum lentago)
Native to North America from northern Wyoming eastward to Maine and from Iowa eastward to Maryland; in Canada, native to southeastern Alberta, Saskatchewan, southern Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick
Bird notes. The dark blue fruit is sought after by flycatchers, flickers, bluebirds and grosbeaks.
Pollinator notes. The flowers offer both pollen and nectar, but most of the insects that visit the flowers, including beetles, flies and bees, are interested in just the pollen. Pollen is usually produced first, before the stigmas become receptive to pollen (this means nannyberry is protandrous).
The anthers project above the flower; as female bees move across the flat inflorescence, they collect pollen on hairs on their body, which is later combed to pollen-collecting structures. Common bee genera visiting nannyberry include mining bees and small sweat bees.
Typical plant communities: Woodland understories and woodland edges
Water requirement: Little to none once established; water the soil (not the foliage) in the morning to prevent powdery mildew
Light requirement: Partial shade to partial sun
Mature size: 8 to 30 feet tall and 10 feet wide
See how to grow nannyberry
(Viburnum lentago)
Native to North America from northern Wyoming eastward to Maine and from Iowa eastward to Maryland; in Canada, native to southeastern Alberta, Saskatchewan, southern Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick
Bird notes. The dark blue fruit is sought after by flycatchers, flickers, bluebirds and grosbeaks.
Pollinator notes. The flowers offer both pollen and nectar, but most of the insects that visit the flowers, including beetles, flies and bees, are interested in just the pollen. Pollen is usually produced first, before the stigmas become receptive to pollen (this means nannyberry is protandrous).
The anthers project above the flower; as female bees move across the flat inflorescence, they collect pollen on hairs on their body, which is later combed to pollen-collecting structures. Common bee genera visiting nannyberry include mining bees and small sweat bees.
Typical plant communities: Woodland understories and woodland edges
Water requirement: Little to none once established; water the soil (not the foliage) in the morning to prevent powdery mildew
Light requirement: Partial shade to partial sun
Mature size: 8 to 30 feet tall and 10 feet wide
See how to grow nannyberry
4. Roundleaf Dogwood
(Cornus rugosa)
Native to North America, from eastern Minnesota east to Maine in the north and from northern illinois eastward to Virginia in the south
Bird notes. The white flowers produce cream or pink berry-like drupes that birds such as bluebirds, woodpeckers, catbirds and thrashers devour in August and September. This native dogwood is a larval host plant to several caterpillar species, which provide a spring food source for birds to feed their nestlings.
Pollinator notes. The large white flower heads attract a number of flower-visiting insects, including flies, beetles (such as the flower longhorn beetle seen here) and bees. Most of these visitors — especially female mining bees, like the ones shown in the previous photo — are interested in the flowers’ pollen.
Typical plant communities: Deciduous woodland understories, woodland edges and slopes in upland; partial to fully shaded sites
Water requirement: Low; once established, this native shrub does not need additional watering except during extreme droughts
Light requirement: Partial sun to shade
Mature size: 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide
See how to grow roundleaf dogwood
(Cornus rugosa)
Native to North America, from eastern Minnesota east to Maine in the north and from northern illinois eastward to Virginia in the south
Bird notes. The white flowers produce cream or pink berry-like drupes that birds such as bluebirds, woodpeckers, catbirds and thrashers devour in August and September. This native dogwood is a larval host plant to several caterpillar species, which provide a spring food source for birds to feed their nestlings.
Pollinator notes. The large white flower heads attract a number of flower-visiting insects, including flies, beetles (such as the flower longhorn beetle seen here) and bees. Most of these visitors — especially female mining bees, like the ones shown in the previous photo — are interested in the flowers’ pollen.
Typical plant communities: Deciduous woodland understories, woodland edges and slopes in upland; partial to fully shaded sites
Water requirement: Low; once established, this native shrub does not need additional watering except during extreme droughts
Light requirement: Partial sun to shade
Mature size: 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide
See how to grow roundleaf dogwood
5. Chokecherry
(Prunus virginiana)
Native to North America from the west coast of Canada eastward to Maine and the Atlantic provinces in the north, and from Arizona and northern Texas eastward to North Carolina in the south.
Bird notes. The Prunus (cherry) genus ranks in the top five plants for supporting butterfly and moth caterpillars. These caterpillars are the primary source of food fed to the offspring of terrestrial birds. Jays, orioles, grosbeaks, woodpeckers and cardinals devour the berries once ripe in early September.
Pollinator notes. Chokecherry flowers are arranged in long, narrow racemes (similar to black cherry tree flowers). The flowers are favored by mining bees, and a variety of species in the mining bee genus can be observed visiting the flowers.
Typical plant communities: Woodland understories and woodland edges
Water requirement: Little to none once established
Light requirement: Shade to partial sun
Mature size: 15 to 30 feet tall and 8 feet wide
See how to grow chokecherry
(Prunus virginiana)
Native to North America from the west coast of Canada eastward to Maine and the Atlantic provinces in the north, and from Arizona and northern Texas eastward to North Carolina in the south.
Bird notes. The Prunus (cherry) genus ranks in the top five plants for supporting butterfly and moth caterpillars. These caterpillars are the primary source of food fed to the offspring of terrestrial birds. Jays, orioles, grosbeaks, woodpeckers and cardinals devour the berries once ripe in early September.
Pollinator notes. Chokecherry flowers are arranged in long, narrow racemes (similar to black cherry tree flowers). The flowers are favored by mining bees, and a variety of species in the mining bee genus can be observed visiting the flowers.
Typical plant communities: Woodland understories and woodland edges
Water requirement: Little to none once established
Light requirement: Shade to partial sun
Mature size: 15 to 30 feet tall and 8 feet wide
See how to grow chokecherry
6. Black Chokeberry
(Aronia melanocarpa)
Native to eastern North America, from Minnesota south to Arkansas, and eastward to Maine in the north and Georgia in the south; in Canada, native from Ontario eastward to Newfoundland
Bird notes. Chickadees, thrashers, catbirds, waxwings, robins and meadowlarks feed on the dark blue fruit in autumn.
Pollinator notes. The bright white flowers and pink anthers attract pollinating insects such as bees and syrphid flies.
Typical plant communities: Swamps, wetlands and low-lying sites with sandy, acidic soil
Soil requirement: Sandy loam to peat
Light requirement: Full or partial sun
Mature size: 3 to 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide
See how to grow black chokecherry
(Aronia melanocarpa)
Native to eastern North America, from Minnesota south to Arkansas, and eastward to Maine in the north and Georgia in the south; in Canada, native from Ontario eastward to Newfoundland
Bird notes. Chickadees, thrashers, catbirds, waxwings, robins and meadowlarks feed on the dark blue fruit in autumn.
Pollinator notes. The bright white flowers and pink anthers attract pollinating insects such as bees and syrphid flies.
Typical plant communities: Swamps, wetlands and low-lying sites with sandy, acidic soil
Soil requirement: Sandy loam to peat
Light requirement: Full or partial sun
Mature size: 3 to 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide
See how to grow black chokecherry
7. Gray Dogwood
(Cornus racemosa)
Native to eastern North America from the eastern Dakotas southward to Texas, and eastward to Maine in the north and Florida in the south; in Canada, native to Ontario and Quebec
Bird notes. The white flowers produce white berry-like drupes that birds such as bluebirds, woodpeckers, catbirds and thrashers devour in August and September. This native dogwood is a larval host plant to several caterpillar species, which provide a spring food source for birds to feed their nestlings.
Pollinator notes. Like all dogwoods, this shrub has a four-parted flower consisting of four creamy white petals. The flowers produce both pollen and nectar, and attract a number of native bees, beetles and, occasionally, flies.
Typical plant communities: Medium to dry sites with well-drained soil
Water requirement: Little to none once established; very drought-tolerant
Light requirement: Full or partial sun
Mature size: 8 to 14 feet tall and 4 feet wide
See how to grow gray dogwood
(Cornus racemosa)
Native to eastern North America from the eastern Dakotas southward to Texas, and eastward to Maine in the north and Florida in the south; in Canada, native to Ontario and Quebec
Bird notes. The white flowers produce white berry-like drupes that birds such as bluebirds, woodpeckers, catbirds and thrashers devour in August and September. This native dogwood is a larval host plant to several caterpillar species, which provide a spring food source for birds to feed their nestlings.
Pollinator notes. Like all dogwoods, this shrub has a four-parted flower consisting of four creamy white petals. The flowers produce both pollen and nectar, and attract a number of native bees, beetles and, occasionally, flies.
Typical plant communities: Medium to dry sites with well-drained soil
Water requirement: Little to none once established; very drought-tolerant
Light requirement: Full or partial sun
Mature size: 8 to 14 feet tall and 4 feet wide
See how to grow gray dogwood
8. Downy Arrowwood
(Viburnum rafinesquianum)
Native to eastern North America, from the eastern edge of the Dakotas east to New Hampshire in the north and North Carolina in the south; absent in South Carolina and rare in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee; in Canada, native from Saskatchewan eastward to Quebec
Bird notes. Flycatchers, flickers, bluebirds, waxwings, robins, catbirds and cardinals feed on the fruit.
Pollinator notes. Downy arrowwood flowers produce a lot of pollen, and visiting insects, including bees, flies and beetles, get covered in pollen while searching for nectar on the flowers. Look for several types of longhorn beetles, syrphid flies and mining bees visiting the flowers.
Typical plant communities: Dry-medium to medium semiopen woodland understories and woodland edges
Water requirement: Dry-medium to medium conditions; no watering required once established
Light requirement: Shade to partial sun
Mature size: 4 to 9 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide
See how to grow downy arrowwood
Read more about gardening with plants native to your region
(Viburnum rafinesquianum)
Native to eastern North America, from the eastern edge of the Dakotas east to New Hampshire in the north and North Carolina in the south; absent in South Carolina and rare in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee; in Canada, native from Saskatchewan eastward to Quebec
Bird notes. Flycatchers, flickers, bluebirds, waxwings, robins, catbirds and cardinals feed on the fruit.
Pollinator notes. Downy arrowwood flowers produce a lot of pollen, and visiting insects, including bees, flies and beetles, get covered in pollen while searching for nectar on the flowers. Look for several types of longhorn beetles, syrphid flies and mining bees visiting the flowers.
Typical plant communities: Dry-medium to medium semiopen woodland understories and woodland edges
Water requirement: Dry-medium to medium conditions; no watering required once established
Light requirement: Shade to partial sun
Mature size: 4 to 9 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide
See how to grow downy arrowwood
Read more about gardening with plants native to your region
(Cornus alternifolia)
Native to eastern North America from Minnesota to Maine, and from Mississippi eastward to Florida, northern Georgia and the eastern Carolinas; in Canada, native to southern Saskatchewan eastward to Nova Scotia as well as western Newfoundland
Bird notes. The white flowers produce blue berry-like drupes that birds such as bluebirds, woodpeckers, kingbirds, catbirds and thrashers devour in August and September. This native dogwood is a larval host plant to several caterpillar species, which provide a spring food source for birds to feed their nestlings.
Pollinator notes. The flowers are nearly self-incompatible and therefore rely largely upon insects for pollination. Common flower-visiting insects include long-horned beetles, flies, wasps and bees. Nectar is offered and secreted from a disk at the top of the ovary. Common bee genera that visit the flowers include mining bees (Andrena spp.), small sweat bees (Lasioglossum spp.) and metallic green sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.)
Typical plant communities: Woodland understories and edges of woodlands; found less often in open, sunny areas
Water requirement: Little to none once established; fairly drought-tolerant
Light requirement: Partial sun to shade
Mature size: 20 to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide
See how to grow alternateleaf dogwood