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Table 1. Western Pennsylvania Plants to Attract Birds
There are many plants, native and non-native, that provide cover--an essential element to any bird habitat. The most effective 'garden' design for birds is a space that mimics the natural woodlands or fields of western Pennsylvania. This is best achieved by choosing plants from the diverse native plant palette for our area. When designing a woodland, be sure to include all three layers--large trees, small trees and shrubs, and an herbaceous layer of plants. (Note: Plants that attract hummingbirds are on a different list). --T. Redick 2001 Common Name | Botanical Name | Type of plant | Comments | Box Elder | Acer negundo | small tree/shrub | Seeds, sap used for food | Red Maple | Acer rubrum | tree | Seeds, sap used for food | Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum | tree | Seeds, sap used for food | Serviceberry | Amelanchier | small tree/shrub | Fruit in June is eaten by songbirds | Red Chokeberry | Aronia arbutifolia | shrub | Bright red, persistent berries | Chokeberry | Aronia melanacarpa | shrub | Black berries persist into winter | Aster | Aster spp. | herbaceous | Seeds in fall and winter | Birch | Betula spp. | tree | Birds seek insects in peeling bark, seeds (catkins) eaten by some species | Ironwood | Carpinus caroliniana | tree | Seeds eaten by birds | Hickory | Carya species | tree | Nuts eaten by birds | American Bittersweet | Celastrus scandens | vine | Fruit eaten by birds | Fringe tree | Chionanthus virginicus | small tree | Blue berries in summer/fall | Pagoda Dogwood | Cornus alternifolia | shrub | Blue berries favored by songbirds | Silky Dogwood | Cornus amomium | shrub | Blue fruit eaten by songbirds | Flowering Dogwood | Cornus florida | small tree | Red fruit favored by songbirds | Gray Dogwood | Cornus racemosa | shrub | Berries eaten by birds | Hawthorn | Crateagus spp. | small tree | Fruit favored as late winter food. | Wahoo | Euonymus altropupureus | small tree | Scarlet fruit in fall | Hearts-a-burstin' | Euonymous americanus | small tree | Red/orange fruit in fall | Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | shrub | Red berries provide late-winter food | Eastern Red Cedar | Juniperus virginiana | shrub | Berries attract many bird species | Blazingstar | Liatris spicata | herbaceous | Seeds in late summer through fall |
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