Extension

The temperature is still warm, but it won’t be long until the Oklahoma sky is filled with birds migrating to their southern wintering grounds. To help fuel the flight, birds trade their typical summer meals of insects for high-energy foods, particularly the fruits of native shrubs and trees.

Gardeners can lend migrating birds a helping hand by planting a variety of fruit-bearing shrubs and trees in the landscape. Fruiting trees such as the Carolina buckthorn and the Rusty blackhaw have a dual purpose in the landscape – they provide fruit for the birds and a place to rest. The dense branches provide protection for the birds during the day while they rest for their nighttime migration flights. There are also several landscape shrubs that not only offer beautiful ornamental displays but are also favorites of birds. These include American beautyberry and Strawberry euonymus.

Don’t overlook vines when planning a wildlife-friendly landscape. Vines can provide both fruit and flowers, as well as valuable shelter. One native vine that deserves more attention is American bittersweet. Be careful not to confuse it with its invasive Asian relative. American bittersweet produces an abundance of bright orange berries in late summer and early fall, providing an excellent energy source for migrating birds. Native honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) provides flowers for hummingbirds as well as small red berries that attract and feed migrating songbirds. Again, certain Asian forms of honeysuckle are very invasive and should be avoided.

These native plants do more than help birds fuel up for the long journey south. They also add seasonal interest to the landscape and bring a variety of songbirds close to home. By planting native, fruit-bearing trees, shrubs and vines, gardeners can create a landscape that benefits both wildlife and people.

Other native plants featuring fall fruits include coral berry, chokeberry, rough-leaf dogwood, Southern waxmyrtle, sumacs and Virginia creeper.