Native Trees, Shrubs and Perennials

Bird-friendly Native Plants

Native trees, shrubs and perennials are good for birds, butterflies and other wildlife that contribute to a healthy environment. Native plants are important food sources for birds, not only providing fruit, nuts and seeds, but also serving as host plants for insects and larvae that birds need as sources of protein. And, birds, butterflies, moths, bees and other insects serve as pollinators to regenerate native plants, which maintains those food sources and helps to keep invasive alien plants under control. Native plants also provide shelter for birds and their nests.

Below is a list of a few suggested trees and shrubs that should do well in your North Carolina yard. Click on the scientific name to find out more about each species. Forsyth Audubon plantings at Bethabara and Bethania are noted in the Comments. The last column notes the number of butterfly and moth species hosted.

We think of spring as planting time, but fall is even better. Over winter, plants can build a healthy root base before blooming the coming year. Much thanks to Susan Andrews and Shelley Rutkin for assembling this list. 

For a more complete list, consult one of these resources: 

www.audubon.org/native-plants

www.ncaudubon.org/conservation

ncwildflower.org

homegrownnationalpark.org

plantant.com

“Bringing Nature Home” by Douglas Tallamy

“Gardening With Native Plants of the South” by Sally Wasowski

 “Native Plants of the Southeast” by Larry Mellichamp

LBJ Native Plant Database

NC Audubon’s 700 Bird-Friendly Plants for North Carolina 

For photos of the plants at various seasons and in bloom see Landscaping with Natives.

Return to Bird-friendly Yards.

Common name	Scientific name	Evergreen/ Deciduous	Comments	Type	Butterfly/ Moth Species   Hosted
River Birch	Betula nigra	Deciduous	Thrives on moist soil. Useful for erosion control.	Tall Tree	411
American Holly	Ilex opaca	Evergreen	Both male & female trees needed for berries.	Tall Tree	34
Eastern Red Cedar	Juniperus virginiana	Evergreen	Provides nesting material and cover. Male & female plants needed for “berries” (cones) which are are consumed by many kinds of wildlife.	Tall Tree	37
Southern Magnolia	Magnolia grandiflora	Evergreen	‘Little Gem’ and many other cultivars are available.	Tall Tree	21
Sweetbay Magnolia	Magnolia virginiana	Evergreen	Both evergreen & deciduous selections are available.	Tall Tree	21
White Oak	Quercus alba	Deciduous	All native oaks are excellent for wildlife.	Tall Tree	518
Red Oak	Quercus coccinea	Deciduous		Tall Tree	518
Red Buckeye	Aesculus pavia	Deciduous	Red flowers attract hummingbirds	Small Tree/ Shrub	32
Downy serviceberry/ Shadbush	Amelanchier arborea	Deciduous	Native to Forsyth County, but hard to find for sale.	Small Tree/ Shrub	119
Serviceberry hybrid/Amelanchier x grandiflora cvs.	Amelanchier cultivars	Deciduous	Bethania/Bethabara. ‘Autumn Brilliance’ cultivar is recommended & available. All Serviceberries good for wildlife, but all subject to rust fungus that alternates with Red Cedar.	Small Tree/ Shrub	119
Redbud	Cercis canadensis	Deciduous	Bethania	Small Tree/ Shrub	19
Fringe tree	Chionanthus virginicus	Deciduous	Bethania. Female fringetrees fruit if male is nearby.	Small Tree/ Shrub	8
Dogwood	Cornus florida	Deciduous	Use only native dogwoods. NOT Kousa Dogwood.	Small Tree/ Shrub	115
Witch hazel	Hamamelis virginiana	Deciduous	Bethania. Blooms October – November.	Small Tree/ Shrub	62
Yaupon holly	Ilex vomitoria	Evergreen	Both male & female trees needed for berries.	Small Tree/ Shrub	34
Florida leucothoe	Agarista populifolia	Evergreen	Can be used for stabilization along moist, shady, stream banks. Native to SC, but not NC. Large, but ‘Leprechaun’ dwarf cultivar also available.	Shrub	?
American Beautyberry	Callicarpa americana	Deciduous	Bethania	Shrub	1
Sweetshrub/ Carolina Allspice	Calycanthus floridus	Deciduous	Bethania	Shrub	2
Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Deciduous	Bethabara. Good in wet soil	Shrub	19
Summersweet	Clethra alnifolia	Deciduous	Grows in moist to wet soil.Medium size, but dwarf cultivars available.	Shrub	8
Wild Hydrangea	Hydrangea arborescens	Deciduous	Blooms in shade.	Shrub	5
Oak-leaf Hydrangea	Hydrangea quercifolia	Deciduous	Colorful in fall. Not native to NC, native further south. Can be large, but ‘Pee Wee’ dwarf selection is available.	Shrub	5
Inkberry	Ilex glabra	Evergreen	Likes wet soil. Both male & female needed for black fruits. Several cultivars available.	Shrub	34
Winterberry Holly	Ilex verticillata	Deciduous	Females produce red berries when male pollinator is close by.	Shrub	34
Virginia sweetspire	Itea virginica	Deciduous	Bethania. Medium size, but dwarf ‘Little Henry’ selection available.All cultivars like wet soil. Superb fall color.	Shrub	34
Doghobble	Leucothoe fontanesiana	Evergreen	Native to Forsyth County. Excellent for edges of streams and ponds.	Shrub	3
Spicebush	Lindera benzoin	Deciduous	Bethania/Bethabara. Host for Spicebush Swallowtail. Need males & females for red fruit set.	Shrub	9
Piedmont Azalea	Rhododendron canescens	Deciduous		Shrub	50
Pinxter Azalea	Rhododendron periclymenoides	Deciduous	Bethania	Shrub	50
Swamp Azalea	Rhododendron viscosum	Deciduous		Shrub	50
Rabbiteye blueberry	Vaccinium ashei	Deciduous	More than one selection needed for good berry set. Superb fall color.	Shrub	286
Maple-leaf Viburnum	Viburnum acerifolium	Deciduous	All viburnums on this list are native to Forsyth Co.	Shrub	97
Southern Arrowwood Viburnum	Viburnum dentatum	Deciduous	All Viburnums need more than one selection for good fruit set.	Shrub	97
Possumhaw Viburnum	Viburnum nudum	Deciduous	Likes wet soil.	Shrub	97
Blackhaw viburnum	Viburnum prunifolium	Deciduous	Moist soil, part shade.	Shrub	97
Downy arrowwood	Viburnum rafinesquianum	Deciduous	Grows in dry soil, shade to part-shade.	Shrub	97
Rusty blackhaw viburnum	Viburnum rufidulum	Deciduous	Dry soil, partial shade. Good fall color.	Shrub	97