Your shrub is an ecosystem
Shrubs provide food or a home for many creatures, some welcome and some less so. Many gardeners make special efforts to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, but most would prefer that deer don't eat their pride and joy. Wild birds have to roost and nest somewhere and often it is in large shrubs.
The simplest rule to follow when choosing a shrub that will attract wildlife is to choose something native to your area. Birds and insects are very well adapted to native flora, but usually have little use for exotic shrubs. Hummingbirds and butterflies are especially picky and can often only survive on one type of plant.
There are other useful points to bear in mind. We all think of providing berries for the winter months, but berries are also a very valuable food source in summer and autumn, so add shrubs that crop at different times of the year. Gardeners with large amounts of land can have a serious beneficial effect by providing habitat, but also by linking habitats using hedgerows.
Butterflies
Butterflies need plants for two main things: nectar for themselves; and food for caterpillars. They usually raise their caterpillars on one or a very few types of plant. They are also choosy about where to get their nectar. Many of the shrubs that attract butterflies with nectar will also attract hummingbirds.
| Latin name | Common Name | Comments | USDA zones |
| Abelia grandiflora | Glossy Abelia | Long flowering season attracts butterflies. | 6-10 |
| Abutilon hybridum | Chinese Lantern | Good for hummingbirds too. | 8-11 |
| Buddleia | Butterfly Bush | Famous for attracting butterflies, they come for the nectar. | 5-9 |
| Caesalpinia gilliesii | Bird of Paradise | Exotic flowers bring exotic butterflies. | 9-12 |
| Crataegus | Hawthorn | Host plant for Swallowtails and Hairstreaks. | 4-9 |
| Hibiscus | Hibiscus | Nectar for butterflies. | 5-9 |
| Hypericum 'Hidcote' | St John's Wort | Host for Hairstreak caterpillars. | 5-9 |
| Kolkwitzia amabilis | Beauty Bush | Nectar attracts many butterflies. | 4-8 |
| Lindera benzoin | Spicebush | Host plant for Swallowtail caterpillars. | 4-8 |
| Malus | Crabapple | Rotting fruit attracts some butterflies. Also host for Swallowtail and Hairstreak caterpillars. | 4-9 |
| Prunus serotina | Black Cherry | Host plant for several butterfly larvae. | 3-9 |
| Rhododendron | Rhododendron/Azalea | Attracts butterflies when in flower. | 3-9 |
| Ribes | Flowering Currant | Host for Angelwing caterpillars and provides nectar when in flower. | 4-9 |
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Birds except Hummingbirds
Birds are attracted to some shrubs for food, usually berries, and for nest sites. Almost any shrub that produces berries provides a feast for some bird or other. Hummingbirds feed on nectar and so they tend to like many of the same shrubs that are attractive to bees.
| Latin name | Common Name | Comments | USDA zones |
| Amelanchier | Serviceberry | Tasty berries for everyone. | 3-8 |
| Aronia | Chokeberry | Edible berries. | 4-8 |
| Cornus | Dogwood | Berries on most varieties. | 5-9 |
| Cotoneaster | Cotoneaster | Salicifolius seems very popular, the smaller ones seem to be left until last. | 4-9 |
| Ilex | Holly | Robins especially like the berries. | 3-10 |
| Lindera | Spicebush | Fruit in autumn. | 4-8 |
| Mahonia | Grapeholly | Late summer fruit. | 5-9 |
| Prunus | Cherry/Laurel | All Prunus fruit seem highly palatable to birds as well as humans. | 3-9 |
| Pyracantha | Firethorn | Abundant fruit for winter birds. | 6-10 |
| Sambucus | Elder | Summer fruit. | 4-9 |
| Symphoricarpus | Snowberry | Berries not always eaten but can be a good food source in harsh weather. | 2-8 |
| Viburnum | Viburnum | Fruit of some types is edible by humans as well as birds. | 3-9 |
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Hummingbirds and Bees
Almost any showy flowering shrub will be attractive to hummingbirds or bees. Any flowering native shrubs are generally good for bees, but hummingbirds are a little more selective.
| Latin name | Common Name | Comments | USDA zones |
| Buddleia | Butterfly Bush | It's not just butterflies that love the nectar. Bees and sometimes hummingbirds also feed here. | 5-9 |
| Cotoneaster | Cotoneaster | Bees love it. | 4-9 |
| Escallonia | Escallonia | Another bee magnet. | 8-11 |
| Ilex | Holly | Attracts bees during the short flowering season. | 3-10 |
| Lonicera | Honeysuckle | Some hummingbirds feed on these shrubs. | 5-9 |
| Rhododendron | Azalea/Rhododendron | Hummingbirds like nectar from these. | 3-9 |
| Ribes | Flowering Currant | Watch out for bees near this shrub in spring. | 4-9 |
| Weigela | Weigela | Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers. | 5-9 |
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Entered by iann
