The Prunus Genus:

maritima (Beach Plum) – Beautiful, red fall color, and the birds of course love the fruit
americana (American Plum)  – Thickets give cover to songbirds
serotina (Black Cherry) – Great for birds because this tree attracts so many caterpillars

Taxodium distichum

Bald Cypress – Eagles and ospreys use it for nesting in the wild. Blazing orange fall color. Can’t get enough of those pneumatophores.

Cladastris kentukea

Yellowwood – Bright yellow color, good cover for songbirds.

Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’

Red Maple – Arguably best fall color tree. Attracts vireos, redstarts, and woodpeckers.

The Quercus Genus

Oaks:
Quercus rubra and Quercus alba – Both have great fall color, and the birds are attracted by the many species of insects it supports, as well as the acorns.

Betula nigra ‘Heritage’

Heritage River Birch — Selected for larger leaves and more heat tolerance.  Waterfowl love the tree for nesting and wild turkeys like to eat the seed.

Celtis occidentalis

Hackberry — Yellow! Winter fruit is valuable to the cedar waxwing, mockingbird, and robin.

Diospyrus virginiana

Persimmon – Orange-Red fall color and huge wildlife value with the edible fruit.

Larix laricina

Larch – Showy yellow, used by the white throated sparrow, common yellowthroats, warblers, pine siskins, grouse, and cedar waxwing.

Castanea dentata

American Chestnut– Yellow gold.  When 25% of eastern forests had chestnut, the nuts were a major food source for birds.

Sassafras albidum

Sassafras –  Yellow, red, and orange, varied fall color, but one of the most popular fall foliage trees. Fruits eaten by many different birds.

Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’

Serviceberry – The most beautiful Amelanchier in fall, and birds love the big berries.

Crataegus viridis ‘WinterKing’

Hawthorne – Yellow fall color.  Keeps its orange berries most of the winter. The birds love it!

Cotinus obovatus

Smoketree – Bright red fall color, great tree for cover for birds.

Cornus florida

Flowering Dogwood- Purplish red in fall.  Birds that use the fruit include: bluebirds, grosbeaks, tufted titmouse, cedar waxwings, northern flickers, American robins, northern cardinals, juncos, thrashers, woodpeckers, crows, grackles, and game birds.

 

We hope this is helpful for planning for your next tree!  Stop in today!