Attracting Wildlife to Your Back Yard

A Guide to Increasing Wildlife Diversity and Aesthetic Value Around Your Home

Appendix A. Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Ground Cover Recommendations

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Species	Latin Name	Diameter	Height	Site	Use	Availability	Wildlife Rating	Wildlife Features	Season	Comments
CONIFEROUS TREES
Ponderosa Pine	Pinus ponderosa	25-30	50-70	ALL	S, ST, B	C, NC	F	C, F	Y
Black Hills Spruce	Picea glauca var. densata	15-25	30-60	ALL	S, ST, B	C, NC	F	C, F	Y
Blue Spruce	Picea pungens	15-25	30-65	ALL	S, ST, B	C, NC	G	C, F	Y
Eastern Red Cedar	Juniperus virginiana	15-30	30-45	ALL	S, O, B	C, NC	G	C, F	Y
Rocky Mountain Juniper	Juniperus scopulorum	12-20	30-40	ALL	S, O, B	C, NC	G	C, F	Y
DECIDUOUS TREES
American Linden	Tilia americana	30-50	50-70	FAV	B, ST	C	G	C, F	S	Seeds drop with leaves
Bur Oak	Quercus macrocarpa	35-60	40-70	ALL	S, ST, B	C, NC	EX	N	S, F	Underutilized
Green Ash	Faxinus pensylvanica	30-40	35-65	ALL	S, ST, B	C, NC	G	C, F	S, F	Reliable, but overplanted
Hackberry	Celtic occidentalis	20-45	40-60	ALL	S, ST, B	C, NC	G	C, F, B	S, F, W	Berries persist into winter
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	30-50	35-60	SEL	O	C	EX	C, F, B	S, F	For trial in selected sites
Black Walnut	Juglans nigra	30-50	30-60	SEL	S, ST, B	NC	EX	C, N	S, F	Nut drop may be bothersome
Boxelder	Acer negundo	30-40	30-55	ALL	S, ST, B	C	F	C	S, W	Plant male cultivers to avoid problem with boxelder bugs
Paper Birch	Betula papyriefera	20-40	20-40	FAV	ST	C	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Subject to drought injury and bronze birch borer
Ohio Buckeye	Aesculus glabra	20-35	20-25	FAV	B, ST	C	EX	C, N	S, F	Nut drop may be bothersome
Amur Chokecherry	Prunus maacckii	NA	20-25	ALL	B, O	C	EX	C, F	S, F	Copper colored bark
Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana	10-20	20-25	ALL	B, O	C	EX	C, F	S, F	Edible fruit, suckers badly, subject to blacknot
Siberian Crab	Malus baccata	NA	15-30	ALL	O	NC	G	C, F, B	S, F, W	Variety "Midwest" excellent
Mountain Ash	Sorbus sp.	10-20	15-25	FAV	B, O	C	EX	C, F	S, F, N	Bark is subject to sunscald
Flowering Crab	Malus sp.	NA	15-20	ALL	O	C	G	C, F, B	S, F, W	Many varieties, plant Zone 2, selection for exposed sites
Amur Maple	Acer ginnala	15-20	15-20	ALL	B, O	C, NC		C, F	S, F	Drought hardy
Hawthorne	Crateagus sp.	8-10	15-20	ALL	O	C, NC	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Several species
Pincherry	Prunus pennsylvanica	NA	15-20	FAV	O	U	EX	C, F	S, F
Thornless Cockspur Hawthorne	Crateagus crusgalli inermis	NA		FAV	O	C	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Fruits heavily, don't plant over sidwalks
SHRUBS
Amur Maple	Acer ginnala	15-20	15	ALL	B, N, OS	C, NC	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Red fall color, leaves and seeds
Buffaloberry	Sheperdia argentea	8-14	20-25	ALL	B, N, OS	C, NC	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Female plants produce heavy berry crops, must have males for pollination
Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana	10-20		ALL	B, N	NC	EX	C, F	S, F	Subject to blacknot amd western X disease
Nannyberry	Viburnum lentago	8-12	10-15	FAV	B, H, OS	C, NC	EX	C, F	S, F	Red fall color, clusters of blue berries
Schubert Chokecherry or Canada Red Cherry	Prunus virginiana	10-20	12-25	ALL	B, H, OS	C, NC	EX	C, F	S, F	A horticultural variety of chokecherry, suckers
Snowbird Hawthorne	Crateagus sp.	8-10	15	ALL	B, H, OS	C	EX	C, F	S, F	Most hawathornes are excellent wildlife plants
American Highbush Cranberry	Viburnum trilobum	8-12	10	FALL	B, H, OS	C, NC	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Fruit persists into winter
American Plum	Prunus americana	8-10	10	ALL	B, H	NC	EX	C, F	S, F	Not long lived, fruit production not reliable
Juneberry	Amelanchier alnifolia	5-12	10	FAV	B, H, OS	C, NC	EX	C, F	S, F	Selected varieties for fruit production
Lilac	Syringa sp.	6-12	10	ALL	B, H, OS	C, NC	F	C	S	Several species and cultivars, attractive to butterflies and bees
Amur Honeysuckle	Lonicera maaki	10-14	8	ALL	B, H	NC	F	C, F	S	Several species and cultivars similar
Cotoneaster	Cotoneaster acutifolia	8-10	8	ALL	B, H, OS	C, NC	G	C, F	S, F	Red fall color
Dwarf Amur Maple	Acer ginnolla	2-4	8	ALL	F, B, OS	C	G	C, F	S, W	Red fall color
Nanking Cherry	Prunum tomentosa	6-10	8	FAV	B, H	C, NC	G	C, F	S, F	Short lived
Red Osier Dogwood	Cornus stolonifera	10-15	8	FAV	B, H, OS	NC	F	C, F	S, F	Our native species of dogwood
Red Twigged Dogwood	Cornus sp.	10-15	8	FAV	B, H, OS	C	F	C, F	S, F	Several commercial species and selections
Smooth Sumac	Rhus glabra	10-15	8	ALL	B, H, OS	C, NC	G	C, F	S, F, W	Red fall color
American Hazel	Corylus americana	NA	7	FAV	B, H, OS	N, C	EX	C, N	S, F	Our only nut producing shrub, underutilized, red-bronze colors
Black Chokecherry	Aronia melanocarpa	NA	6	SEL	B, H	C	EX	C, F	S, F	For trial in selected sites
Golden Currant	Ribes cooratum	NA	6	FAV	B, H	NC	G	C, F	S, F	Edible fruit
Hansen Hedge Rose	Rosa sp.	4-6	4-6	ALL	B, H	NC	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Fruits persist into winter
Mongolian Cherry	Prunus fruticosa	3-6	6	ALL	B, H	NC	EX	C, F	S, F	Suckers, forms thickets
Alpine Currant	Ribes alpinum	3-6	5	ALL	B, H, F	C	G	C	S	Shade tolerant
Ill Scented or Skunkbrush Sumac	Rhus trilobata	4-10	3-8	ALL	B, H	NC	F	C	S, F, W	Red fall color
Rugosa Rose	Rusa rugosa	NA	4	FAV	B, H, F	C	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Fruits persist into winter
Woods Rose and Wild Prairie Rose	Rosa sp.	4-6	4	ALL	B, H, F	NC	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Several species, fruits persist into winter
Sandcherry	Prunus bessyi	3-6	4	FAV	B, H	NC	EX	C, F	S, F	Short lived, not vigorous
Raspberry	Rubus sp.	NA	3	SEL	B, H	C, NC	EX	C, F	S, F	Commercial varieties for fruit
Snowberry, Wolfberry	Symphoricarpos sp.	NA	3	ALL	B, H, F	NC	G	C, F	S, F, W	Berries persist into winter
VINES
Virginia Creeper	Pathencissus quinquefolia	NA	Large	FAV	C, NC	EX	C, F	C, F	S, F	Turns scarlet red in early fall
Wild Grape	Vitus vulpina	NA	Large	FAV	Vine	NC	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Makes good jelly
American Bittersweet	Celastrus scandens	NA	Medium	FAV	Vine	C, NC	EX	C, F	S, F, W	Orange seed capsules split to expose red seed, persist into winter, male and female required to set fruit
Scarlet Trumpet or Dropemore Honeysuckle	Lonicera hirsuta XL. sempervirens	NA	Small	FAV	Vine	C	EX	C	S	Flower favored by hummingbirds and orioles
GROUND COVER BEARBERRY
(And Other Hawthornes	Artostaphyols UVA-URI	NA	Low	FAV		U, NC		F	S, F	Shade tolerant