Landscaping for Bluebirds

IMPORTANT SOFT-MAST PRODUCING NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE & RECOMMENDED FOR LANDSCAPE USE in ZONES 6, 7, and 8 – NORTH and SOUTH CAROLINA


For ease of identification and clear communication with landscape nursery professionals, this list has been organized according to alfa-scientific nomenclature.

  • The use of confusing or colloquial plant names or nicknames has been avoided.
  • Plants that are toxic, aggressively invasive, non-native, parasitic or USDA Exotic Plant Control listed are not recommended.
  • If possible, select and purchase your plants by scientific name only.

NOTE: For a thorough description of a plant and its cultivars it is recommended that you consult an authority such as Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (ISBN 9780875638003) by Michael A. Dirr at your library or nursery before purchase of plant material.

Scientific Plant Name Common name Fruiting See note(s)
Amelanchier arborea Downey Serviceberry Jun/Jul 5
Amelanchier laevis Allegheny Serviceberry Jun/Aug 4,5
Aralia spinosa Devil’s-walkingstick
a.k.a. Hercule’s-club
Aug/Oct 1,4,5
Callicarpa americana American Beautyberry Aug/Nov
Celtis occidentalis Hackberry Aug/Oct 5
Celtis laevigata Sugar Hackberry Sep/Oct 5
Chionanthus virginicus Fringetree Aug/Sep 3,5
Cocculus carolinus Carolina Moonseed Oct/Nov 1,3
Cornus alternifolia Alternate-leaf Dogwood Jul/Aug
Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood Aug/Nov 5
Cornus canadensis Bunchberry Aug/Oct 5
Cornus florida Flowering Dogwood Sep/Oct 5
Cornus sericea Redosier Dogwood Aug/Sep 4
Crataegusspp. Hawthorn Sep/Oct 4
Cataegus spathulata Spatulate Hawthorn Sep/Oct 2,5
Gaylussacia brachycera Box Huckleberry Jul/Aug 4
Ilexdecidua Possum Haw Sep/Jan 3
Ilexglabra Inkberry Sep/May 1,3
Ilex opaca American Holly Oct/Feb 3
Ilex verticillata Winterberry Aug/Dec 1,3
Ilex vomitoria Yaupon Sep/Jan 1,3
Juniperus virginiana Eastern Red Cedar Sep/Feb 3
Lindera benzoin Spicebush Sep 3
Malusspp. Flowering Crabapple Jul/Dec
Menispermum canadense Common Moonseed 1,3
Morus rebra Red Mulberry May/Jun 1,3,5
Myrica cerifera Waxmyrtle Aug/Dec
Myrica pensylvanica Northern Bayberry Sep/Dec 1,3
Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum Aug/Oct 5
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper Sep/Oct 1,5
Persea borbonia RedBay Oct
Prunus augustifolia Chickasaw Plum May/Aug 1
Prunus caroliniana Cherry Laurel Oct/Nov 1
Prunus serotina Black Cherry Aug/Sep 1
Prunus virginiana Choke Cherry Jul/Aug
Rhamnus caroliniana Carolina Buckthorn Aug/Oct
Rhus glabra Smooth Sumac Sep/Jan 1,3
Rhus typhina Staghorn Sumac Aug/Apr 1
Sambucus canadensis American Elder Aug/Sep 1
Sambucus pubens Scarlet Elder Jun/Jul 4
Sassafras albidum Sassafras Sep 1,3,5
Sorbus americana American Mountainash Sep/Dec 4
Symphoricarpos albus Snowberry Sep/Nov
Symplocos tinctoria Horse Sugar Sep/Oct
Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry Jul/Aug 5
Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood Sep/Nov 1
Viburnum lentago Nannyberry Sep/Nov
Viburnum trilobum Highbush Cranberry a.k.a. American Cranberry Bush Sep/Feb
NOTES
1
Somewhat invasive/viney/thicket forming
2
Possibly undesirable habit .. eg. thorny
3
Male & Female plants (1:3) for best fruit production
4
Best in cool/mountain environment
5
Notable bird favorite
This information compiled by Bill Abbey, September 2005