Whelp today I placed an order for three more wildlife friendly plants -

American Hazelnut, Corylus americana
Chickasaw Plum, Prunus angustifolia
American Chestnut, Disease Free Selection, Castanea dentata

from Nearly Natives Nursery. They are really nice people and have an outstanding selection of native plants.

I have woodlands here and little to no understory, so I am trying to fill it up with food and coverage plants. The American Chestnut is an honest to goodness full size canopy tree reaching 80-100 feet, which I really didn’t have room for but made space. I want one. So there. Nearly Natives is working with The American Chestnut Foundation carrying a hopefully disease free selection of 1 gallon seedlings. These are a Chinese chestnut cross and I’ll let you know how that goes in 40 years.

Now the American Chestnut Cooperators’ Foundation was distributing seeds from existing mature trees left, but they have discontinued this practice. Also reading the growing instructions became a bit intimidating and I didn’t think I was up to the pressure. Yie.

All in all I am very excited about my little chestnut. One day it shall be a mighty tree, you just wait!

American Hazelnut, Corylus americana is another small 6-12′ thicket forming shrub which will tolerate dry sites and can take the shade, something I need. The oak area of my woods is dang dry although I did irrigate it with drip. Behind my specimen is a mature Eastern red cedar and on the ground some native Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia is just starting, along with some baby Hearts a’ Bustin Euonymus americanus.

Anyhow! Corylus americana produces edible nuts for the birds and @#%! squirrels. Read more about this wildlife friendly shrub at: American Hazelnut, Corylus americana.

Chickasaw Plum, Prunus angustifolia is a pretty shrub or small understory tree to 20′, rather understated although the spring flowers are lovely. Please pardon the above photo, this little guy is freshly planted. Prunus angustifolia can sucker and requires a spring cleaning, or you may let it form a thicket and it will hosts bird nests. The fruit is edible but I’ll leave it for the opossums. You can read more about this wildlife friendly shrub here: Chickasaw Plum, Prunus angustifolia.

If you are planting for wildlife consider the above plants. There are several berrying plants talked about often, which is great for birds and other critters, but sometimes a wildlife garden needs a bit of beefy food.

One Response to “Wildlife Friendly Shrubs”

1. Kathy says:

   05/10 at 8:09 am

   Wonderful post about considering understory trees for wildlife habitat.. and enjoyment for many years to come. Good luck with your little chestnut.. may he become truly mighty!