In selecting woody species for your property, keep in mind the needs of birds and beneficial insects. Native species are much more valuable in providing habitat, while contributing beauty to the landscape Most non-native species have little or no value in providing for the needs of birds and insects.
The woody plants are listed in order of value for nesting birds (Source, Tallamy and Shropshire, 2017, National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder). These species of woody plants are important due to the number of butterfly and moth species (lepidoptera) attracted to the species as host plants. Caterpillars are the major source of food for nestlings – even species that are seed eaters as adults. Some 95% of bird species feed their young on the larvae of butterflies and moths, and spiders.
For convenience, the list is divided into sections for trees, shrubs and vines, but the relative rank is maintained. Some 48 woody genera providing host value for lepidoptera species are included on the spreadsheet. There are additional natives offering habitat value. The list that appears on the CLC website was the results of a search on zip code 60010. To ascertain the plant list for your zip code, check the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder and provide your zip code.
An additional column shows the importance of the woody species in providing fruits, nuts, or seeds for adult birds (Various sources, including Mariette Nowak, author of Birdscaping in the Midwest and George Adams’ Gardening for the Birds.). Although some woody plants may support a relatively low number of lepidoptera, they may be quite valuable as a food source for adult birds (Elderberry, for instance).
Woody plants also provide shelter and nesting locations. Hawthorns, Spruces, American Plums, Ninebarks, Roses, Viburnums, Maples, Junipers, Pines, and Dogwoods are among the woody plants offering excellent or good cover or nesting value.
Note: this list applies to Midwest region
| Genus (Common name) | Genus (Latin name) | No. of Lepidopteran species hosted | Value as Food for Adult Birds |
| TREES | |||
| Oaks | Quercus sps. | 342 | Good – Several birds eat acorns |
| Wild Cherries, Plums, etc. | Prunus sps. | 283 (1) | Excellent (84 bird species use) |
| Willows | Salix sps. | 254 (1) | Good |
| Birch | Betula sps. | 224 | Good |
| Aspen, cottonwood, poplars | Populus sps. | 218 | Good |
| Maple, Boxelder | Acer sps. | 206 | Fair (Though Boxelders attract insects that birds eat) |
| Hickories, pecan, other nuts | Carya sps. | 195 | Good |
| Crabapple | Malus | 187 | High |
| Elm | Ulmus | 157 | Not rated |
| Pine | Pinus | 132 | Fair |
| Basswood, Linden | Tillia | 126 | Not rated |
| Ash | Fraxinus | 115 | Will be impacted by EAB |
| Walnut, Butternut | Juglans | 114 | Not rated |
| Beech | Fagus | 104 | High |
| Hawthorns | Crataegus | 104 | High |
| Pagoda Dogwood | Cornus | 78 (1) | Excellent |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier | 76 (1) | Very high |
| Ironwood, Tupelo | Ostrya | 70 | Good |
| Spruce | Picea | 61 | Good |
| American Hornbeam | Carpinus | 56 | Not rated |
| Witchhazel | Hamamelis | 55 | Not rated |
| Locust | Robinia | 52 | Not rated |
| Larch, Tamarack | Larix | 44 | Good |
| Mountain ash | Sorbus | 44 | Good |
| Hackberry | Celtis | 41 | Very high |
| Honey locust | Gleditsia | 40 | Not rated |
| Sycamore | Platanus | 38 | Good |
| Holly | Ilex | 35 (1) | Not rated |
| Blackgum, sourgum | Nyssa | 29 | Good |
See the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder for additional species.
(1) In combination with shrubs of the genus
Not rated = sources used did not show a value of this species for adult food value
| Genus (Common name) | Genus (Latin name) | No. of Lepidopteran species hosted | Value as Food for Adult Birds |
| SHRUBS | |||
| Chokecheery, other Prunus shrubs | Prunus sps. | 283 (2) | Excellent (84 bird species use) |
| Willow | Salix sps. | 254 (2) | Good |
| Cranberry, Blueberry | Vaccinium | 162 | Very high |
| Alder | Alnus | 132 | Good |
| Blackberry, raspberry, others | Rubus | 105 | Very high |
| Filbert, Hazelnut | Corylus | 85 | Good |
| Dogwoods | Cornus | 78 (2) | Excellent (Used by 93 Species) |
| Viburnums | Viburnums | 77 | Good (Used by 35 species) |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier | 76 (2) | Very high |
| Native Roses | Rosa | 74 | Good |
| Medowsweet, Steeplebush | Spirea | 52 | Good |
| Sumacs | Rhus | 37 | Good (Used by over 20 species) |
| Winterberry | Ilex | 35 (2) | High |
| Sweetfern | Comptonia | 34 | Not rated |
| New Jersey Tea | Ceanothus | 31 | Good |
| Ninebark | Physocarpus | 30 | Good |
| Sassafras | Sassafras | 29 | Good |
| Elderberry | Sambucus | 25 | Excellent (Used by over 100 species) |
(2) In combination with trees of the genus
| Genus (Common name) | Genus (Latin name) | No. of Lepidopteran species hosted | Value as Food for Adult Birds |
| VINES | |||
| Grape | Vitis | 58 | Very high |
| Woodbine, Virginia creeper | Parthenocissus | 27 | Not rated |