Landscape Bird Attraction - Colorful Fruits

Most showy as a specimen shrub is the LindenLow-growing shrubs are just as important in the
Viburnum (V. dilatatum) from Asia. Like V. opulus itsgarden as the taller varieties already mentioned.
vivid red berries generally remain untouched until lateCoralberry, also known as Indian Current, and
winter. Both species have horticultural varieties withSnowberry serve well in this capacity. For late winter
yellow instead of red fruit... a desirable addition to theuse nothing is better than Japanese Barberry
garden. It has not been reported whether the birds(Berberis thunbergi). On steep slopes Cotoneaster
show any preference.horizontalis provides an evergreen ground cover with
For the landscape gardener who must contend withabundant small, red fruits.
shady situations, the native Viburnums offer aVines for walls may be used to cover walls and
variety of plant material long known to be consumedtrellises. Among the most attractive both for its
by birds. First to be eaten are the blue-black berriesscarlet fall foliage and its blue berries is Virginia
of Arrowwood (V. dentatum). Maple-leaved ViburnumCreeper, choice of Thrushes, Purple Finch, Grosbeaks,
(V. acerifolium) holds its berries into the early winter.and Woodpeckers. If space permits their use, one of
Nannyberry and Black Haw produce blueblack berriesseveral good varieties of grapes may be used to
half an inch in length which have been used forprovide another source of bird food, often used by
preserves since Colonial times. The birds generallymigrating fall Warblers.
finish them off before winter sets in.There are many other shrubs both native and exotic
Wythe Rod often shows green, red, and maturewhich might be mentioned.
black berries in the same bunch. It is the speciesNow is the time to make your plans. Select shrubs in
most tolerant of wet ground. The fruits of theaccordance with the three needs of birds: food,
Japanese Seibold Viburnum are very similar but barelycover, and nesting sites, and with a four-season
have time to ripen in early fall, before a featheredavailability in mind. Most of the trees and shrubs can
host swarms into the plants and quickly devoursbe planted this spring if orders are placed
every fruit. This is the tallest species, growing up toimmediately. Get started now, and as the years pass
30 feet, and is one of the choicest specimens in anyou can count on having increasingly more birds in
exceptionally attractive genus of shrubs.your garden.