Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash
Female trees provide beautiful berries for birds and other wildlife during the winter when resources are usually fewer . If you do decide to add one you your landscape be sure to take a soil test before establishment and plant it in a partially shaded area . This tree will attract a wide variety of birds such as : sparrows , cardinals , woodpeckers , jays , wrens , and more . If you have a smaller yard and cannot commit to a large tree then red chokeberry ( Aronia arbutifolia ) provides similar features to the American holly without having to commit to its large size . This shrub can grow up to 12 foot tall , provides red berries during the winter , pretty flowers in the spring , and color in the fall . This shrub typically attracts sparrows , jays , thrashers , and other birds .
Spring and summer fruiting hosts for birds are much easier to come by . Crossvine ( Bignonia capreolata ) is an early blooming vine that hummingbirds love , however , not every gardener may appreciate . It has an aggressive growth habit and can be hard to control , but is a great early nectar resource for hummingbirds . Trumpet creeper ( Campsis radicans ) is the famous plant many hummingbird feeders are designed to replicate . The vines must be pruned each fall to generate short plants and many flowers , but the result is hummingbird heaven for two to four weeks in May and June . Cardinal flower ( Lobelia cardinalis ) is another great choice for the gardener that loves hummingbirds because of its beautiful red flowers and longer bloom period from May to October .
Highbush blueberry would also make a great Christmas gift for birdwatchers that do not mind sharing their fruit ! It prefers a lower pH so be sure to test your soil so that it gets off to a good start and plant more than one variety to ensure good pollination and fruit set . Sparrows , cardinals , woodpeckers , jays , thrushes , wrens and thrashers also love blueberries . Black Eyed Susan is becoming more popular in the landscape and for good reason ! Sparrows , cardinals , woodpeckers , jays , thrushes , thrashers , wrens and many other birds enjoy its seeds . It also blooms for much of the summer and into the fall from June to October .
Azure blue sage ( Salvia azurea ) is appealing to sparrows , hummingbirds , and other birds . Despite its , name blooms can be white or blue and has a fairly lengthy bloom period in the fall from September to November . A large variety of birds are attracted to American Witch Hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana ) for the fruit and seeds that it produces . You can expect to see sparrows , cardinals , woodpeckers , jays , thrushes , thrashers , and wrens if you decide to plant this tree in your landscape . Blooms can be a variety of colors , but normally appear from September to December .
No matter what you decide you get your friends and family members this holiday season you can be certain that your neighborhood birds will be grateful if you decide to think of them . Bird feeders , bird baths , and hummingbird feeders are always nice , but ensuring foraging resources throughout the season will keep feathered friends close year round and bright beautiful foliage too !
UGA Extension Thomas County can be reached at 1-229-225-4130 .
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