By planting natives, you help provide food and protection to a wide range of local wildlife. These animals contribute to a balanced environment and are fascinating to observe! These six native plants support wildlife and make a great addition to any landscape.
1. Eastern Wahoo
This native shrub or small tree grows near streams and in wooded areas. It produces small pink fruit and outstanding red fall foliage. It’s the perfect alternative to the invasive, non-native burning bush.
Its spring flowers attract pollinators like bees, beetles, and flies. Wild turkey, deer, and eastern cottontail rabbits eat its fruit. Several caterpillars of native moths feed on the wahoo fruit and its leaves.
2. Chokecherry
Chokeberry offers year-round beauty to landscapes. From white, spring blooms to stunning red fall color it’s a landscape all-star. Its flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies and small mammals, eat the fruit. When the plant is still young and tender, deer, elk, and moose will browse its leaves.
3. Oak Tree
Doug Tallamy, author of ‘Bringing Nature Home’, says, “If you only plant one tree, let it be an oak.” At Forrest Keeling, we couldn’t agree more.
These beautiful, long-lived trees provide endless benefits to our environment. This article explains why oak trees are an essential for your landscape. If you’re planting an oak tree, Forrest Keeling’s RPM Oaks offer great benefits. Our RPM-produced trees enjoy greater survivability, faster growth, and increased acorn production. Learn more about RPM here.
4. Serviceberry
One of the earliest blooming shrubs of Midwest forests. Serviceberry blooms in early April and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Serviceberry also nourishes many other animals.
Several birds enjoy its fruit, including chickadees, bluebirds, orioles, goldfinches, and juncos. Mammals like skunks, foxes, and chipmunks relish this native’s leaves and berries. The berries are also a delicious specialty crop.
5. Milkweed
If you’re a fan of the iconic monarch butterfly, milkweed is a must for your native landscape. The beautiful orange and black butterflies rely on its nectar during migration. Monarch larvae survival depends on its nutritious leaves in summertime.
Other pollinators also feed on the milkweed plant. A diverse population of pollinators contribute to sustainable plant growth throughout your property.
6. Sumac
Four species of sumac occur in the Midwest. Staghorn, smooth and flameleaf (Rhus typhina, glabra and copallina) each naturalize as thicket-forming shrubs up to 20 feet tall. Aromatic sumac (R. aromatic) is also spreading and deciduous but matures to only six to 12 feet in height. the lacy foliage provides shady cover from summer heat.
While not especially energy rich, upland birds, like quail, eat its seed. Its persistent fruits help these birds survive during periods of late winter snow. Larger mammals like deer, squirrels, and cottontail rabbits also eat the fruits.
Your Experts In Native
Forrest Keeling has an exceptional selection of native species. Each aids in restoring natural habitats and ecosystems. We grow hundreds of native trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses. Our plants
have the added benefit of our patented RPM-production technology. We can help guide your selection of native options for any landscape project.
Forrest Keeling Nursery… it’s where the best natives begin! Contact us today.