Bees

Without pollinators such as honeybees, plants could not survive. These tiny creatures pollinate flora from industrial agricultural crops to the dandelions. Bees are the planet's most effective pollinators. To attract more beneficial honeybees to your landscape, plant a diverse range of at least 10 bee-attracting plants, avoid using pesticides and plant a variety of flower species to ensure continuous blooms over a growing season. Don’t forget to read our BROCHURE ON “PERENNIALS” for a great list of perennial flowers. You can also attract Mason bees by providing the right kind of ‘housing’. Ask our staff for details.

TREES AND SHRUBS TO ATTRACT BEES TREES Common name Botanical name Notes (Flowering) Lovely trees for the smaller yard, with pink or Prunus Cherries white flowers in spring. Bees will pollinate your fruit trees for a large Apples, pears, Fruit trees crop! If you were to select one tree, just for peaches, etc. the bees, go for the crab apple. Paul's Scarlet" has dark pink flowers and Hawthorn Crataegus "Toba" blush pink/white; both are followed by red berries, loved by birds. Several varieties with dense creamy-white flower clusters in spring, followed by orange, Mountain Ash Sorbus red or white berries. All are strong, hardy, attractive trees. Small yellow flowers in early/mid spring, Cornelian Cornus mas followed by bright red berries that are Cherry enjoyed by birds. Attractive mid sized tree with small, whitish Little leaf Linden Tilia cordata flowers in early summer. Beautiful mid sized tree with white flower Oxydendrum sprays in SUMMER, followed by spectacular Sourwood arboreum fall colours! Birds like the seeds; butterflies are attracted to the nectar. Lovely pink flowers in spring, followed by Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis large, heart shaped leaves. Franklinia Small tree with large, fragrant white flowers Franklin tree alatamaha in late summer and nice fall colour. SHRUBS Both have trusses of yellow flowers that are Oregon Grape Mahonia very attractive for bees. The spiny shrubs also provide shelter and berries for birds. Lovely weeping shrubs. The pussy willow (Weeping) Salix branches are great for cutting, and are a Pussy willow magnet to bees when they bloom. Very attractive dark pink or white flowers on Flowering this open leafy shrub. "King Edward VII" is a Ribes sanguineum Current more compact variety, also loved by hummingbirds. Lovely fragrant, small white flowers in early Winter Lonicera spring. Bring some branches in to force Honeysuckle fragrantissima indoors! In early spring, these large shrubs are covered in fragrant, bright yellow, orange or Witch Hazel Hamamelis red spidery flowers. Most also have very nice fall colour. Very strong and healthy shrub rose with Rugosa Rose Rosa rugosa white or pink flowers, followed by large hips. Flowers have a lovely 'old rose' scent. Both have Lovely spring flowers, followed by Viburnum Viburnum opulus berries for the birds! Great all purpose small shrub with brightly coloured new growth in spring, lots of white Spiraea Spiraea or pink flowers in spring, and again awesome foliage colour in fall. Tough and hardy. Large shrubs with lovely flower clusters in late spring. Check out the awesome foliage of Elderberry Sambucus "Black Beauty" and "Black Lace". Birds enjoy the berries. Bloom in spring and summer, but the naturally attractive shape of the shrub and Butterfly bush Buddleia evergreen foliage keep the bush interesting, even when it is not in bloom.

Birds

If you wish to encourage more birds and more varieties of birds around your home, you can do so by providing a variety of trees and shrubs, particularly those that provide food in the form of fruit, berries, nuts or seeds. Below is a list of trees and shrubs that will definitely attract a wide range of (song) birds. Don’t forget that birds also love the seeds of annuals and perennials, such as sunflowers, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, Coreopsis and Salvia. However, birds also need shelter, water and nesting areas. Provide nesting houses with various opening sizes to attract smaller and larger bird species. Shallow birdbaths will do wonders on the hot summer days and are a joy to watch. Give them a good scrub and clean water every few days. Leave twigs, leaves etc. on the ground for shelter and try to avoid the use of pesticides.

GREAT TREES TO ATTRACT BIRDS Common name Botanical name Notes Cornus mas, Cornus Each one of these varieties has something kousa, Cornus different to offer for your garden. But one Dogwood florida, Cornus thing they all have in common: birds love nuttalli their fruits in fall! Very popular with our winged friends. "Sergeant Tina" is a lovely small tree with nice Crab apple Malus small berries that are easy for the birds to eat. Several varieties with dense creamy-white flower clusters in spring, followed by orange, Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia red or white berries. All are strong, hardy, attractive trees. Hawthorns are lovely 'old English' trees. "Paul's Scarlet" has dark pink flowers and Hawthorn Crataegus "Toba" blush pink/white, both followed by red berries. A larger shade tree, many birds love the Red Alder Alnus rubra seeds! Attractive small tree, the black berries are Black Aronia mainly attractive to the birds in late winter Chokeberry melanocarpa when food gets sparse. Schubert Prunus virginiana Nice mid sized tree with burgundy leaves. Chokecherry Don't forget you'll be sharing your fruit if you Fruit trees plant a fruit tree! Especially cherries and mulberries are a treat for the birds. Abies (Fir), Picea Many birds enjoy the seeds of these trees, Coniferous (Spruce), Pinus especially in winter. These trees also provide Evergreens (Pine), Juniperus excellent cover and nesting sites. (Juniper) etc. Nut trees Corylus (Hazelnut), Especially larger birds (like jays) enjoy the GREAT TREES TO ATTRACT BIRDS Common name Botanical name Notes Castanea nuts. (Chestnut), Fagus (Beech), Quercus (Oak), etc.

GREAT SHRUBS TO ATTRACT BIRDS Elderberries are beautiful large shrubs, and Elderberry Sambucus the late summer fruit usually doesn't last long! The variety "Autumn Brilliance" is a very Serviceberry Amelanchier attractive shrub with lovely fragrant white flowers in spring and beautiful fall colour. Many of the Viburnum varieties are lovely shrubs, with pretty (often fragrant) flowers Viburnum Viburnum and the birds just love the berries! Try V. Dentatum "Blue Muffin" for a mid sized shrub with blue berries. Well known evergreen shrub which provides Firethorn Pyracantha berries and shelter for many birds. Callicarpa Profusion" is a lovely shrub with the brightest Beautyberry bodinieri purple berries in fall! White berries in late summer. Brightly coloured stems glow in the winter sun. This Red twig Dogwood Cornus sericea shrub is a favourite nesting site of the American goldfinch. Blueberries, currants, Berries Birds love them just as much as we do! strawberries, etc. Extremely showy in late fall and early Winterberry Ilex Verticillata winter when covered with their bright red fruit Oregon Grape Mahonia In early-spring, the plant is topped with sprays of small bright yellow fragrant flowers in a long-blooming display that attract bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators

Butterflies

Who doesn’t love the sight of a gorgeous butterfly basking in the sun on a beautiful flower? The trick to getting these delightful creatures to your backyard is to not only plant flowers for nectar, but also a range of plants to feed the caterpillars (called ‘host plants‘). Don’t forget to check out our lists for attracting butterflies in our Perennial Guide.

TREES AND SHRUBS TO ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES LARVAL HOSTS Common name Botanical name Notes Many nice varieties. Great for moist Willow Salix locations. Attractive for mourning cloak larvae. A large, stately tree with flowers that Liriodendron Tulip Tree resemble tulips. Host tree for western tulipifera tiger swallowtail larvae. The quaking aspen (P. tremuloides) is a very nice mid sized shade tree, with Aspen Populus golden fall colour. Host tree for western tiger swallowtail larvae, as well as the mourning cloak larvae. Betula nigra 'Heritage' is a good tree for Birch Betula mourning cloak larvae. NECTAR SOURCES - TREES Very attractive mid sized to large tree Buckeye/Horse Aesculus with beautiful, long lasting white or red Chestnut flower panicles in SPRING. Small to mid sized trees with attractive Flowering Plum, Prunus white/pink flowers in SPRING and green Cherry (cherry) or burgundy (plum) leaves. Small to mid sized tree with fragrant Japanese Tree Lilac Syringa reticulata white flower panicles in EARLY TO MID SUMMER. Beautiful mid sized tree with white flower Oxydendrum sprays in SUMMER, followed by Sourwood arboreum spectacular fall colours! Birds like the seeds. NECTAR SOURCES - SHRUBS Early Mid to large sized shrub with very Lilac Syringa vulgaris fragrant panicles of white, lavender, or purple flowers. Excellent for cutting. Small to large sized evergreen shrubs Rhododendron Rhododendron with attractive flower trusses from early to late spring, depending on the variety. Mid Small to large arching shrubs with white, pink, blue or purple fragrant panicles Butterfly bush Buddleia from mid-summer to fall. Best if pruned back to 1' in spring. Both are frost hardy shrubs with white Ligustrum Privet flowers in summer that are followed by japonicum black fruits, enjoyed by birds. Nice mid sized deciduous shrub, with Summer sweet Clethra alnifolia lovely, fragrant flower racemes in late summer. Late Small deciduous shrub with golden or Bluebeard Caryopteris green foliage and striking blue flower clusters in late summer to fall. Small/mid sized shrub with pinkish white, Glossy Abelia Abelia x Grandiflora fragrant, tubular flowers all summer long until frost! Hydrangea Lovely flower panicles, attractive to Hydrangea Paniculata monarchs.

Hummingbirds

There is nothing more satisfying than sitting still on your porch, and watch one hummingbird after another visit your hummingbird feeder, just a few feet away… Or is there? Even though the feeders provide a nice supplement for the hummingbirds, they still need our plants and trees for nectar, shelter and nesting sites. Hummingbirds like to make their nest high in deciduous trees, and will also spend time hiding out in coniferous trees. Below is a list of shrubs and trees that will ensure these tiny little miracle birds will visit your yard and flourish. Don’t forget to check out our BROCHURE ON “PERENNIALS” for a list of beautiful flowers for more nectar!

TREES AND SHRUBS TO ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS TREES Common name Botanical name Notes Enjoyed by the over wintering "Anna's Eucalyptus Eucalyptus Hummingbird" Small tree with lovely pink flowers in spring, Flowering Crab-apple Malus followed by fruit that is enjoyed by birds. Paul's Scarlet" has dark pink flowers and Hawthorne Crataegus "Toba" blush pink/white; both are followed by red berries, loved by birds. Plant Aesculus "Rubra" for a stunning display Horse Chestnut Aesculus of pink flowers in spring! Robinia "Purple Robe" has lovely trusses of Locust Robinia pseudoacacia purple flowers in mid to late spring. Beautiful tropical looking tree with clear pink, Silk Tree Albizia julibrissin brush like flowers in late summer. The unique tulip-resembling flowers on this Tulip poplar Liriodendron tulipifera large tree are a good source of nectar for our tiny friends. SHRUBS Small/mid sized shrub with pinkish white, Glossy Abelia Abelia x Grandiflora fragrant, tubular flowers all summer long until frost! Small to mid-sized evergreen shrubs with Azaleas Rhododendron pink, white, red or purple flowers in spring. Masses of pink trumpet shaped flowers adorn Beauty bush Kolkwitzia amabilis the arching branches of this mid to large sized shrub from late spring to early summer. Try "Orange Delight" for bright orange flowers in early spring, followed by edible fruits that Flowering quince Chaenomeles Japonica can be used for jellies - if the birds don't get to them first! Hardy shrubs with large, tropical looking Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus flowers, shades of pink, white and lavender. Weigela Weigela Along with lovely light pink to red flowers in spring and summer, Weigelas boast attractive green, variegated or burgundy leaves on mid sized shrubs. Honeysuckle and Lonicera and Campsis Don't forget to plant these lovely vines, trumpet vine radicans irresistible to hummingbirds! Provide early season nectar when there are limited food supplies. Try one of these Lilac Syringa boomerang series for a longer flowering period.