Native Plant Wildlife Gardening

I ran across these photos while browsing GardenWeb’s Name That Plant Forum. This particular forum is fantastic if you have a plant in your yard, or find one in the woods that you don’t know what the heck is and would like to identify. Take some photos and post it there, just be sure to provide information such as where you are, what sort of conditions the plant is growing in, and any details you can give, such as it has a sprawling habit or has thorns, etc. People will help you out. I’ve had great luck with figuring out woods plants here, someone always knows a heck of a lot more than I do!

Anyhow, back to the stunning shrub in the photo. The lady who asked for an id found this beauty growing in the woods. It was ID’d as Viburnum opulus var americanum – American Cranberry Bush High bush cranberry (or the plant formally known as Viburnum trilobum which is what I still call it. Drives me nuts when they re-name plants but that’s another post). I thought this shrub was just gorgeous and perfect with the berries for wildlife.  Viburnum is a great bird attractor! I have Viburnum dentatum (Southern arrowwood), V. nudum (Possumhaw), V. rufidulum (Rusty blackhaw viburnum), V. lentago (Nannyberry) and V. acerifolium (Maple-leaf viburnum). Like I don’t have enough viburnum. Now I must have a Viburnum opulus var americanum to add to my collection. The colors are lovely, and the leaf shape delicate and interesting. So I went about trying to order a couple and checked my usual places with no luck – haven’t found one to buy yet but I’ll keep searching.

Looks like there is gooseberry mixed in in, too, so I bet that’s a great bird spot once berries ripen. Gooseberry also has thorns which birds love to nest in.

American cranberry bush is a deciduous shrub which grows well in average, moist, well drained soils in full sun to part shade. (That means shade in Georgia speak). Prefers moist loam, but tolerates a wide range of soils. It reaches 8-15′ tall and wide, offers bird coverage, nesting sites and provides berries for wildlife food. It does like water but I have heard of people growing it well in drier soils once established. Soil preference seems to be on the acid side.

If you have a moist area in your garden, check out American cranberry bush.