Native Plants of the Month: Trees and Shrubs

Native Louisiana woodies (trees and shrubs) not only add beauty to your

landscape, but many of the species in this group are especially valuable for

providing food, cover, and nesting sites for native wildlife. The type and number of

woodies that can be placed on a site will depend on available space, but any

residential lot can accommodate some woody plants. Consider converting some

of that lawn, which provides little to no wildlife habitat, to woody vegetation.

Shrubs and many small to medium size trees can be fit neatly into even relatively

small suburban residential lots. Larger lots and areas undergoing restoration can

accommodate more individual plants to include many large trees as well.

Louisiana hosts a multitude of native shrubs and trees, and the gardener can

select from this wide selection for landscaping. The following species are only a

small subset of the Louisiana native woodies that could be used in your

landscape. I've included brief descriptions of their value to wildlife.

One of the most valuable group of woodies for wildlife in our region are the

Viburnums. Four species of particular note are Arrowwood (V. dentatum),

Possumhaw (V. nudum), and Rusty Blackhaw (V. rufidulum). Arrowwood and

Possumhaw are shrubs (8 feet tall X 6 feet wide) that tolerate a wide range of

growing conditions; Possumhaw tolerates wet soils. Rusty Blackhaw is more tree

like, reaching 12 feet in height, and it requires drier soil conditions than

Arrowwood and Possumhaw. All produce clusters of creamy white flowers in

spring, and the fruit lasts into the fall and winter until consumed by wildlife. Birds

that use the fruit include Eastern Bluebird, Cedar Waxwing, Gray Catbird, Rose-

Breasted Grosbeak, Purple Finch, White-throated Sparrow, Red-eyed Vireo, and

White-eyed Vireo. White-tail deer browse the leaves and stems. Members of the

family serve as a host for caterpillars of Henry’s Elfin.

Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a must for your landscape, especially for

attracting hummingbirds. It’s very adaptable – thrives in sun or shade and most

soils. Average height is about 10 feet. The plant has beautiful foliage as well as

flowers, which bloom in early spring just in time to provide nectar for the first

spring migrating hummingbirds.

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), a small shrub (6 feet tall X 6 feet

wide), is tolerant of most soil conditions and any light exposure from shade to full

sun. The leaves turn yellow in autumn to provide attractive fall color in the

landscape. After leaf fall, the stems showcase lovely clusters of purple fruit (white-

fruited variety also available). American Beautyberry fruit is eaten by Wild Turkey,

Rufous-sided Towhee, Brown Thrasher, Wood Thrush, American Robin, and

Northern Bobwhite.

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is a shrub (9 feet tall X 7 feet wide) with

large glossy leaves. It can be used effectively in the landscape around ponds or

at stream edges below bald cypress, as it tolerates constant-to-frequently-flooded

soils. Buttonbush also does fine on drier sites such as in raised beds or within

natural upland gardens. Buttonbush blooms in late spring and summer. The white,

spherical flowers of this plant are used as a nectar source by both hummingbirds

and butterflies; the nectar seems to be a favorite of the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly.

Bill Fontenot notes that where it is located on waterways, Buttonbush is the

preferred nesting habitat of Snowy Egret and Little-blue Heron.

Southern Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) is a fast growing, large shrub (15 feet high

X 12 feet wide). It tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, but prefers sunny

sites. Southern Wax Myrtle can be used in the landscape as a natural screen. Its

dense growth provides excellent cover and nesting sites for birds. This native

shrub can also be limbed up for a more sculpted look around buildings or in more

formal gardens. Because the plant spreads by root suckering, maintenance will

be required to keep it in check in these formal settings. The wax-covered fruit of

Southern Wax Myrtle is consumed by numerous birds including Ruby-crowned

Kinglet, White-eyed vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Rufous-sided Towhee.

Hollies (Ilex spp.) belong to a diverse family of plants, all valuable to wildlife. The

family is represented by 12 native species in Louisiana. All are dioecious; that is

male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, and only female

specimens bear fruit. Excellent holly selections for the landscape in this region

are American (I. opaca), Dahoon (I. cassine), Deciduous (I. decidua), Winterberry

(I. verticilata) and Yaupon (I. vomitoria). American holly grows to 30 feet tall under

good conditions; the other species included here generally do not exceed 15 feet

in height. The American holly also prefers somewhat drier conditions than these

other species; the others can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. The fruit of

hollies is consumed by Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin,

Brown Thrasher, Rufous-sided Towhee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Hermit

Thrush. Raccoon also are reported to eat the fruit.

Mast producing native trees such as oaks (Quercus spp.) and hickories (Carya

spp.) provide food for many mammals (Squirrels, Raccoon, Black Bear, Whitetail

Deer) and birds (Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Wild Turkey, Wood Duck,

Mallard) during late fall and winter when other foods are in limited supply. Oaks

are extremely important as host plants for the caterpillars of hundreds of species

of native moths and butterflies, which in turn are preyed upon by birds, and critical

in rearing young during the nesting season. Oaks and hickories are large

(generally exceeding 60 feet in height) and may not fit into the smallest residential

lots, but these native trees come highly recommended for landscapes that can

accommodate them. Among the hickories, Mockernut (C. tomentosa), Black (C.

texana), and Shagbark (C. ovata) are good selections for adding bright yellow fall

color to the landscape. Oaks of particular beauty in the landscape are Live (Q.

virginiana), White (Q. alba), Swamp Chestnut (Q. michauxii), Nuttall (Q. texana),

Overcup (Q. lyrata), and Shumard (Q. shumardii). The foliage of White, Swamp

Chestnut, and Shumard oaks exhibit striking fall color. Overcup Oak and Nuttall

Oak thrive in frequently-to-occasionally-flooded soils, whereas the other oaks and

hickories mentioned here require drier sites. Read The Nature of Oaks by

Douglas Tallamy. Watch Nature of Oaks with Douglas Tallamy.

Elms (Ulmus spp.) also are incredibly important trees for wildlife and should be

used more in the landscape. American Elm (U. americana) is a large tree

reaching approximately 100 feet under good conditions. The Winged Elm (U.

alata) and Cedar Elm (U. crassifolia) are medium-sized (45 feet tall) trees, but all

three species produce seeds eaten by migrating songbirds. American Elm and

Winged Elm flower in early spring providing an abundant supply of seeds for

American Goldfinch, House Finch, and Purple Finch. White-throated Sparrow

feast on Cedar Elm seeds available in the fall.

Although seldom promoted for use in the landscape, Hackberry (Celtis laevigata)

is extremely important for wildlife. Bill Fontenot designates Hackberry among the

top five wildlife trees in our region. Hackberry is a fast growing, medium size (50

feet tall X 35 feet wide) tree that tolerates a wide variety of growing conditions. Its

fruit, which is produced in fall, is eaten by many birds including Eastern Bluebird,

American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Cardinal, Swainson’s Thrush, and

Hermit Thrush. Flying Squirrel and Fox Squirrel also consume the fruit. The

species is a host plant for Hackberry Emperor, Tawny Emperor, Question Mark,

and American Snout caterpillars.

Even native plant enthusiasts rarely include Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

(60 feet high X 30 feet wide) in their list of preferred trees for the landscape.

Sweetgum “balls”, which contain the seeds, are considered a nuisance in

carefully maintained lawns. Nonetheless, this tree is extremely valuable to wildlife.

American Goldfinch, for example, eschew seed feeders until they have exhausted

the supply of sweetgum seeds in the area. Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Vireo,

Carolina Chickadee, Rufous-sided Towhee, and White-throated Sparrow also

consume sweetgum seeds. The leaves of this tree host the catepillars of several

moth species, including the beautiful Luna Moth. In fall, the leaves of sweetgum

add the colors of yellow, maroon, and wine to the landscape.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) is a must for gardeners who want to attract spring

migrating birds. This is a small tree, about 35 feet tall, which does best in full sun,

but it is not particular about soil type or moisture condition. The red fruit ripens to

dark purple in spring and is a favorite of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet

Tanager, Northern Oriole, Indigo Bunting, and dozens of other birds. The fruit also

is eaten by Fox Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Raccoon, and Opossum.

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is a medium size (30 feet high X 15 feet wide)

native tree. Spikes of white flowers are produced in early spring, and the fruit is

available in spring and summer. Black Cherry has showy yellow leaves in fall,

which adds lovely color to the landscape. Black Cherry, which thrives in partial

shade, is a must for those interested in attracting birds to their garden. Birds

known to eat the fruit are Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-

headed Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Summer

Tanager, Eastern Bluebird, American Goldfinch, among others. Black Cherry also

is a host plant for caterpillars of Tiger Swallowtail, Red-Spotted Purple, and

Viceroy butterflies.

American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a small native tree (25 feet tall X

12 feet wide) tolerant of most soil conditions. The leaves turn yellow to red in

autumn, adding attractive fall color to the landscape. Because the species is

dioecious, both male and female plants must be present, for female specimens to

produce fruit. The fruit, which ripens with the first frost, is a favorite of many

mammals and birds. Whitetail Deer, Red Fox, and Raccoon are drawn to the

ripened fruit as are the American Robin, Gray Catbird, and Pileated Woodpecker.

It also is a host plant for the Henry’s Elfin caterpillar.

Carolina Buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana) is a small tree (20 feet tall X 15 feet

wide) best suited for woodland edges, as it thrives and is most attractive in part

shade. It flowers in the spring, and the fruit is green until late summer when it

turns red, then black in fall. The glossy leaves of Carolina Buckthorn are also an

attractive characteristic. Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, American Robin, Wood

Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Baltimore Oriole as well as Raccoon

consume the fruit.