U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Plants for Your Backyard Habitat
Backyard Habitat for Wildlife
Plants provide two of the essential elements of wildlife habitat: food and shelter. Fortunately, many species of plants that are useful to wildlife are aesthetically pleasing to us as well. The delicate flowers that provide nectar to hummingbirds and butterflies brighten our yards through the spring and summer months. Brilliant fall foliage and colorful fruits and berries paint the fall landscape. And the evergreens that provide crucial protection from harsh weather add a touch of green to winter's browns.
The ideal wildlife habitat should include plants that range widely in size and density so that birds and other animals can choose the type of cover that best meets their needs for hiding, nesting and protection from extreme weather. The flowering and fruiting times of various plants should also be taken into account as you plan your planting, so that you have a variety of foods that are available to wildlife throughout the year.
The plants listed below are attractive to many species of wildlife in the Southeastern United States. They are readily available at your local nursery and, given the correct environmental conditions and care, will thrive in your backyard.
Deciduous Shrubs
Persimmon . . . . . . . . . . . Diospyros
Barberry . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berberis
virginiana
canadensis
Red Bud . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cercis
Beauty-berry . . . . . . . . . Callicarpa
canedensis
americana
Red Maple . . . . . . . . . . . . Acer rubrum
Black Huckleberry . . . . Gaylussacia
Sassafras . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sassafras
baccata
albidum
Butterfly Bush . . . . . . . . Buddleia davidii
Southern Crabapple . . . Malus
Inkberry . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ilex glabra
angustifolia
Serviceberry . . . . . . . . . . Amelanchier
Southern Sugar Maple . Acer barbatum
arborea
Sweet Gum . . . . . . . . . . . Liquidambar
styraciflua
Deciduous Trees
Black Cherry . . . . . . . . . Prunus serotina
Vines
Black Gum . . . . . . . . . . . . Nyssa sylvatica
Blackberry . . . . . . . . . . . Rubus spp.
Flowering Dogwood . . . Cornus florida
Coral Honeysuckle . . . . Lonicera sempervirens
Hackberry . . . . . . . . . . . . Celtis laevigata
Muscadine . . . . . . . . . . . . Vitis rotundifolia
Hickory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carya spp.
Trumpet Creeper . . . . . . Campsis
Live Oak . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quercus
radicans
virginiana
Virginia Creeper . . . . . . Parthenocissus
Mulberry . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morus spp.
quinquefolia
Parsley Hawthorn . . . . . Crataegus
Wisteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wisteria sinensis
marshallii Plants for your Backyard Habitat
Evergreen Shrubs
Eastern Redcedar . . . . .
Nandina . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oregon Grape Holly . . .
Privet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Firethorn . . . . . . . . . . . .
Evergreen Trees
American Holly . . . . . . .
Dahoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Carolina Cherry Laurel
Southern Magnolia . . . .
Wax Myrtle . . . . . . . . . . .
Yaupon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For more information:
Juniperus
virginiana
Nandina
domestica
Mahonia bealei
Liqustrum
sinense
Pyracantha spp.
Ilex opaca
Ilex cassine
Prunus
caroliniana
Magnolia
grandiflora
Myrica cerifera
Ilex vomitoria
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Migratory Bird Management Office
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 634
Arlington, VA 22203
1 800/344 WILD
www.fws.gov
April 1999
