.f.. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ARBORETUM NO. 13-1972 MERVIN EISEL ~ that attract birds Although man Is crowding many of the native Inhabitants qff the land, this need not happen with birds which are very connpatlble end can add much interest to thalandscapa.. However, they must ba conaldared when developing and planting the land. Many bird food jplants which can be selected for trees and shrub border provide privacy, reduce noise, screen unsightly views, as well as provide habitat and focd for the birds. Mass plantings are desirable for tha birds and often can be planted to reduce maintenance, thua giving the gardener more time to enjoy the birds. Ornithologists estimate 'en acre of land in the eastern United States will support an average of four birds. By providin1g suitable hab itat and plants that provide food during the winter mon11hs, this number can be increased considerably. Four essentials for birds A continuous supply of food is essential for all birds. You will note that the season when birds use the plants for food lis indicated on the following list. Those plants that retain their fruits in to the winter are especially important because food is scarce then. Plants producinp fruits and seed during the summer serve as a ~upplement to a bird's insect diet, and those retaining their fruits into the winter often contribute color and interest to an otherwise drab winter landscape. Water must be available. A birdbath, a small pool, or fountain will fulfill this need. If possible the water should be shallow, at least along the edge of the container. A supply of water can be maintained during the winter by using an electric heater. Birds must have protective cover. Cover helps tl1e1m escape from cats, dogs, and natural predators and gives protection in bad weather. Dense evergreens effectively supply this protection. Whl!n landscaping especially to attract the birds, plants are spaced closer t<>gether than normal, therefore thicket type planting is ideal, allowino the branches to grow close to the ground. This dense vegetative growth also will provide desirable nesting sites. Birdhouses and feeders help attract birds to the landscape. Bird houses should be protected from cats and squirrels. Should you desire to feed the birds during the winter, be sure to do so thmugh the entire winter because birds become dependent on this food source. However, temporary supplemental feeding after deep snows and ioce storms may save many birds. This information should be used with Extension Bulletins 267, "Woody Plants for Minnesota," and 258, "Evergreens," which give the cultural requirements of the following lists of plants. These are available from your county extension agent. Trees (50 feet and overl Name Quality Season+ Remarks Boxelder lacer negundo) g Not recommended for landscape plantings Sugar Maple lacer Saccharum) g Foo'd and nesting Hackberry (Celtis occidental is) vg Green Ash I Fraxinus pennsylvanica lanceolata) Norway Pine (Pinus Seeds resinosa) White Pine (Pinus w..:over and Seed strobus) w Cov er and Seed ex - excellent vg - very good g - good f - fair + f - fall w - winter sp- spring su - summer Hanson's Hedge Rose Trees (25 to 50 feet) Name Quality Season+ Remarks Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera and others) Seeds Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) g su Hummingbirds Russian Olive (Eiaeagnus angustifolia g Eastern Redcedar Seeds and fruits (Juniperus virginiana) ex,sp Plant away from apples Russian Mulberry (Morus alba tatarica) ex su Attracts many birds Amur Corktree (Phellodendron amurense Blackcherry (Prunus vg,sp Many black fruits serotina) vg su Attracts many birds Mountain Ash ex su, Many good species (Sorbus spp.) and selections
,- Trees (under 25 feet) Name Quality Season+ Remarks Name Quality ~ason+ Remarks Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) vg su, Good bank covar Pagoda Dogwood " each pi ant of a (Cornus Alternifolia) g su,f Plant in semi-shade, single sex horizontal branches, Buffaloberry (Shepherdia white flowers, good argentea) vg as tree or shrub su,late Attractive, silvat. foliage, red, orange, Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crusgalli and fruits, sexes on others) f,g Bright red fruits separate plants attractive Nannyberry (Viburnum Rocky Mountain Juniper lentago) vg Cluster of black.(juniperus scopulorum fruits cultivars) ex Some cultivars Prickly Ash (Zathoxylum bear some fruit americanum) g su,late Forms an impen- Siberian Flowering Crab etrable thicket, apple (Malus baccate) vg Golden fruits suckers to form thicket Red Splendor Flowering Crabapple (Malus 'Red Shrubs (6 to 8 feet) Splendor') ex,sp Red showy fruits from fall to spring Name Quality Season+ Remarks Korean Barberry (Berberis Crabapple (Malus zumi calocarpa) ex Beautiful in bloom koreana) vg Long racemes of Other Flowering Crabshowy red fruits apples (Malus spp.) g Most contribute Silky Dogwood (Cornus some food obliqua) vg su,f Ironwood (Ostrya Gray Dogwood (Cornus virginiana) Seeds racemose) vg su,f Wild Plum (Prunus Redosier Dogwood americana) su,late i=ruits (Cornus stolonifera) vg su,f Showy red bark, black Mayday Tree (Prunus fruits, plants subject padus) vg su Showy spring to scale insects bloom Winterberry or Blackatu11r (!lex verticillate) ex Sexes on separate Redbud Flowering Shrubs (8 feet and over) plants, moist acid soil, very showy Amur Maple (Acer fruits ginnala) g Seeds Nanking Cherry (Prunus Juneberries or Serviceberries tomentosa) vg su May not fruit each (Amelanchier spp,) ex su Desirable orna- year mental, attracts Hanson's Hedge Rose many birds (Rosa 'Hanson Hedge') ex sv, Colorful stems and Many flowered Cotoneaster fruits (Cotoneaster multiflora) vg su,f Bright red fruits American Elder (Sambucus Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus canadensis) ex su,late Black fruits atropurpureus) f,g Showy fruits in Scarlet Elder (Sambucus winter pubens) vg su Red fruits European Euonymus Arrowwood Viburnum (Euonymus europeaus) Fruits discolored (Viburnum dentatum) vg su.f Black fruits by hard freeze Wayfaringbush (Viburnum Ames Juniper (Juniperus lantana) vg su,late Fruits turn red then chinensis Ames') ex Very fruitful, black when ripe dense blue-green European Highbush Cranberry foliage (Viburnum opulus) g Birds like American Honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.) vg su,f Many species, cranberry better most attract birds Sargent Highbush Cranberry Pincherry (Prunus virginiana) vg su Fruits (Viburnum sargenti Chokecherry (Prunus cal vescens) vg Good ornamental pennsylvanica) vg su Fruits American Highbush Cranberry Shubert Chokecherry (Prunus (Viburnum trilobum) vg Apparently fruits virginiana 'Shubert') vg su Summer foliage, must freeze and thaw dark reddish color several times before Buckthorn (Rhamnus birds find them cathartica) vg su, May be used as a palatable smatt tree, common in wooded areas Shrubs (3 to 5 feet) where it has escaped Glossy Black Chokeberry from cultivation (Aronia melanocarpa Smooth Sumac (Rhus elata) vg Showy white flowers glabra) g su, Bank covar, each Purplefruit Chokeberry plant of single (Aronia prunifolia) g su,f Not as fruitful as one sex above Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergi) g w,f Sharp spines, making + it a choice nesting ex-excellent f fall site vg-very good w winter Key e Bayberry (Myrica g-good sp spring pennsylvanica) vg Holds leaves through f-lair su summer winter ~ 2
.. Sparkler Crabepple Shrubs (3 to 5 featl continued Vines Name Quality Season+ Remarks Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes spp.l vg su Plaints subject to mil - devv and leaf spot dis11ases Rugosa roses and hybrias (Rosa rugosa) 9 Red-orange hips Raspberries ( Rubu. strigosus and occidental is) ex su Attracts many birds Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) ex su Forms thicket, attracts many birds Shrubs (less than 3 feet) Cranberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculata) 9 su,f Not fully hardy Name Chinese Bittersweet (Celastrus loesneri) American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) ' Oropmore Scarlet Trumpet HoneysuckiP. (Lonioera 'Dropmore Scarlet Trumpet') Virginia Creeper (Parthen ocissus quinquefolia) Wild Grape (Vitis riparia) Quality f 9 el< ex Season+ su,f Remarks Attracts a few birds, plant at least three plants Attracts a few birds, plant at least three plants Attract hummingbirds Cluster of blue fruits and good fall color orbiculatus) Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus laevigatus) g,sp Wh ite fruits Coralberry or Indian Currant (Symphoricarpos g,sp Reel fruits 3 ex-excellent vg very good g - good f - fair + f - fall w - winter sp - spring su - summer Key
Plants especially good for cover end nllting aitas Name Size (feet) Remarks White Fir (Abies concolor) Blue-green foliage Lilac Flowered Honeysuckle (Lonicera syringentha) 4 5 Forms a very dense entanglement ex excellent vg very good g good f fair +. f fell w winter IP apring au summer Key White Spruce (Picea glauca) Bleck Hills Spruce (Picee gleuce densatel Very danae Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) Douglas fir (Pseudotsuge menziesii) Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum amerlcanum) 25 60 8+ Dark green foliage Protected altea only Forma en impenetrable thicket laaued In furtherance of cooperative extenaion work In agriculture end home economica, acta of May 8 end June 30, 1914, in cooperation- with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Roland H. Abraham, Director of Agricultural Extension Service, Unlveralty of Mlnneaote, St. Paul, Minna aote 66101, We offer our program end fecllltlll to ell people without regerd to race, creed, color, sex, or national origin, Agricultural Extension Service In11titute of Agriculture University of Minnesota St. Paul. Minnesota 55101 Roland H. Abraham, Director Cooperative Extension Work Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914... [FI > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF' AQAICUL TUAE AQA tot or.= J OFFICIAL BUSINESS