Plum

American Plum (Prunus americana)

Size: 8′ to 20′ tall/ 10-15′ spread.

Flowering: early-mid May

Fruiting: September

Birds: warblers attracted to pollenating insects. Fruit eaten by larger birds such as robins, orioles, blackbirds, or some woodpeckers

One of my personal favorites for the insect attracting flowers in the spring, and the edible fruits (for me) in the fall. American Plum is a multi-stemmed, shrubby, small tree with a spreading crown reaching up to 30 feet tall with numerous rigid spiny branches. Readily suckers from roots. American plum is a great native plant for wildlife because it bears small tasty plums in the fall. The native plum has a fast growth rate, and is also good for wind breaks. the flowers are White, long filaments, and appear in small clusters in early spring with the leaves. The fruit is a fleshy drupe, nearly round, 1 inch across, reddish-purple to yellow-brown some glaucous bloom, ripen in mid to late summer.

Nannyberry

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago ‘Nannyberry’)

Size: 12′ tall and canopy spread to 10′

Flowering: mid-June

Fruiting: ripens in late August

Birds: late-summer feeding, and fall migrants such as catbird, thrasher, robin, blackbirds, waxwing, sometimes orioles and grosbeaks

This native species Viburnum grows as a tall shrub or small tree. In late spring it produces small, white flowers in flat-topped clusters. The edible fruits are bluish-black in drooping clusters that stay on the plant all winter if they aren’t eaten by birds. It grows best in rich, moist soil, and is often found in upland woods in the wild. It tolerates both acid and alkaline soils. Nannyberry makes a great hedge or screen for your garden, or can be planted in naturalized areas. The birds will relish the fruit and use the plant for cover and raising their young.

Mulberry

Mulberry (Morus rubra)

Size: 20-30′ tall/15-20′ wide.

Flowering:

Fruiting: mid-late June

Birds: summer nesting species, especially starlings, robin, blackbirds, rose-breasted grosbeak, waxwing, and some woodpeckers.

A very shade tolerant tree – often excelling in the understory of established farm groves, Red Mulberry produces an edible red-purple drupe that resembles blackberry. The fruit is used in jams and wines, and is relished by many wildlife species. Fruiting in June provides nesting catbirds, thrashers, and robins with a plentiful source of sweet fruit. Mulberry can tolerate a variety of moist soil conditions, and can even tolerate seasonal flooding.