Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2019 - 47

Fruit, cover, and nesting for birds, most famously the extinct Passenger Pigeon.
* Black Cherry (Prunus serotine). Reaches 60-100 feet with white spring flowers
and black summer fruit. Food for 33 species of birds; attractive to butterflies as well
as hosting larvae of several species; special
value to native bees, bumble bees, and
honey bees.
* Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). Scarce
native hardwood tree that grows 75-100
feet. Attractive to birds, caterpillars, and
butterflies; preferred host of Luna and regal moths.

SHRUBS
* Hazelnut (Corylus americana). Eight to
16-foot thicket shrub with edible nuts.
Food and cover for birds.
* Common Buttonbush (Cephalanthus
occidentalis). Perennial that twists 6-12 feet
tall with flowers and fruits. Important nectar for many pollinators; food for birds.
* Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum).
Grows 6-12 feet with silky hairs on twigs
and undersides of leaves; late spring
blooms. Attracts birds, butterflies, and
caterpillars.
* Maple-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). Dense 4-6 feet tall by 3-4 feet
wide with white flowers from April-August, then blue-black berries. Birds drawn
to the fruit; all pollinators come for the
nectar.
* Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa).
Tree-like shrub of 8-20 feet with fruit clusters. Particularly attractive to humming-

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PLANTING NATIVE
* Cluster plants in groups of three to look natural and aid in foraging.
* Choose a large plant variety to provide resources throughout all four seasons.
* Select host plants for insects. Native pollinators need flowering plants for feeding and
food for their larvae, which in turn provide food for birds.
* Don't use herbicides or pesticides. Native species will have little need for these.
* Grow plants for shelter, protection, and nesting.
* Freeform and casual are the perfect landscaping styles for native environments.
(Provided by Tracie Jeffries, Catawba Valley Community College)

birds; nectar and fruit draws pollinators.
* Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus).
Grows 15-30 feet with drooping clusters of
fragrant flowers in April and May. Larval
host for Rustic sphinx moth; birds browse
berries, twigs, and foliage.
* Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Aromatic
foliage shrub that reaches 6-12 feet; early
spring flowers and red fruit. Hosts butterfly larvae; attractive to birds.
* American Beauty-Berry (Callicarpa
americana). Grows 3-5 feet with pink flowers and glossy purple fruit clusters. Nectar
and food for pollinators and birds.

VINES
* Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata). Woody
vine that reaches 50 feet; large trumpet
flowers from March-May and semi-evergreen leaves. Nectar for butterflies; hummingbird favorite.
* Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans).
Climbs up to 35 feet in full sun. Butterflies,

caterpillars, and hummingbird favorite.
* Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). Good climber with twining native
vine of 3-20 feet. Favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees; attractive fruit
for other birds.
"Native plants are adapted to our local
climate and soils. Our birds and insects
have co-evolved with our native plants,
and are better adapted to using indigenous plants for food and shelter," Jeffries
summarizes.
To finalize your plans for native plants
in the backyard, check the following online resources:
* Audubon.org/native-plants
* North Carolina Native Plant Society:
NCWildflower.org
* Pollinator Conservation Resources:
Xerces.org
* Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Wildflower.org

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera); Hazelnut (Corylus americana); Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata).

MARCH/APRIL 2019

http://www.Audubon.org/native-plants http://www.NCWildflower.org http://www.Xerces.org http://www.Wildflower.org

Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2019