12 Landscape Plants for Fall & Winter Wildlife

This Month in the Garden: 12 Landscape Plants That Support Wildlife

Welcome to This Month in the Garden. A thriving landscape can also be a vital source of food, shelter, and nesting space for local wildlife. By thoughtfully choosing the plants we grow, we can create a landscape that is not only beautiful, but also play an important role in sustaining the natural world around us. With autumn upon us and winter on the way, here are twelve landscape plants that can help to support our local wildlife. 

American Holly (Ilex opaca)

American Holly: American Holly is an evergreen tree native to the eastern and southeastern regions of the United States and hardy in USDA zone 5-9. This species is found in moist woods, forest bottomlands, and swamp edges, and often serves as an understory tree. Female trees produce clusters of bright red berry-like fruits that are visually striking in winter and provide food for many bird species throughout winter. The flowers which appear in late spring to early summer are an important nectar source for bees and butterflies.  

Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.)

American beautyberry: The most widely known cultivar is American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), which is native to the southeastern United States and thrives in woodlands, meadows, and along water margins. Hardy in USDA zones 5-8, the American species displays clusters of magenta to violet berries tightly encircling stems, a trait distinguishing it from many non-native varieties. The vibrant purple-pink berries can linger throughout fall and into winter, supplying food for birds and small mammals including armadillos, raccoons, opossums, squirrels.

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

Arrowwood Viburnum: Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is a native deciduous shrub to northeastern America which is valued for its wildlife support. White blooms lead to bluish-black fruits  persisting into winter and providing food for a range of birds, including Northern cardinal, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, and Mockingbird. The berries are also consumed by various mammals, such as Eastern gray squirrel, rabbits, and deer.

Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)

Winterberry: Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) is a deciduous holly shrub hardyin USDA zones 3-9 and native to eastern North America, including the United States and southeast Canada. It typically grows 3 to 15 feet tall, and often forms dense thickets, especially in wetland habitats like swamps, pond edges, and moist woods. The shrub is known for its bright red berries that persist throughout the winter, providing a feast for robins and mockingbirds. Winterberry is dioecious, meaning it must have male and female plants nearby for fruit to form.

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

Spicebush: Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a deciduous shrub in the laurel family (Lauraceae) and is native to central and eastern United States. It is typically found in moist woodlands, bottomlands, ravines, valleys, swamps, and along streams. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, Spicebush produces red berries which attract thrushes and cardinals in late fall and early winter and serve as a food source.

American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

American Elderberry: Hardy in USDA zones 3-9, American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) provides ornamental value with its fragrant flowers and showy bluish-black fruits, while attracting butterflies, birds, and other pollinators. It grows fastest in rich soil but can spread aggressively by root suckers, so planting location and maintenance should be under consideration. Birds are particularly attracted not only to the berries but also to the dense foliage, which provides nesting opportunities and protection. The berries serve as a nutritious resource especially in late summer and early fall, benefiting migrating and resident birds alike.

American Cranberry Bush (Viburnum opulus var. americanum)

American Cranberry Bush: The American Cranberry Bush (Viburnum opulus var. americanum), also known as American Cranberry bush Viburnum or highbush cranberry, is a broadleaf deciduous shrub native to northern North America. Hardy in USDA zones 2-7, this shrub produces flat-topped clusters of white lacecap flowers in mid- spring, followed by bright red, cranberry-like edible berries in late summer to fall. The to be enjoyed by wildlife.

Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

Juniper: Juniper (Juniperus spp.) is hardy in USDA zones 2-6 and is known to provide an important source of food and shelter for wildlife.  The female juniper cones, commonly called berries, are a significant food source for many mammals and birds, especially during winter when other food is scarce. These berries contain carbohydrates and fats, making them valuable for energy. Birds such as American robins, cedar waxwings, and several jay species eat the berries, often consuming large quantities in harsh seasons. Small mammals like rabbits, rodents, and coyotes also feed on the berries, helping disperse the seeds. Junipers also provide shelter and nesting cover for birds and some mammals and the dense evergreen foliage offers protection from harsh weather conditions. The plant's strong scent and sharp needles also tend to discourage deer from browsing.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Eastern White Pine: Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, Pine offer both shelter and high-fat seeds for crossbills, chickadees, nuthatches, and squirrels, all through the coldest months. Its seeds, cones, foliage, buds, and bark are consumed by animals such as squirrels, rabbits, deer, beavers, black bears, and various small mammals. Many birds, including species like Red-breasted Nuthatches, woodpeckers, and grosbeaks, rely on the pine’s seeds and use it for nesting sites. Large Eastern White Pines also serve as important nesting trees for hawks, owls, and other cavity-nesting birds.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Black-eyed Susan: Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is hardy in USDA zones 3-9 and serves as an excellent food source for American Goldfinches, Bobwhite Quail, and Wild Turkeys, once the flowers have matured and gone to seed. The nectar from the flowers is an important food source for pollinators, and a home for larval host for certain moths and butterflies.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Echinacea: Echinacea, or coneflower are native to eastern and central North America and includes a vast selection of species, ranging in both size and color. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, Echinacea prefers to be grown in full sun and in a well-drained soil. Flowers emerge from mid-summer to mid-fall which are a favorite feeding station for many butterflies. After blooming, seed heads are a huge attraction to a number of bird species, including Blue Jays, Cardinals and finches.

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Bearberry: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), hardy in USDA zones 2-6, is a low-growing, evergreen shrub native to northern North America, spreading horizontally to form a dense ground cover. The plant exhibits small, leathery, dark green leaves that turn reddish to bronze in fall and produce small, white to pink flowers in late spring. Bright red berries form that last into winter and are eaten by a variety of wildlife including birds, foxes, coyotes and bears. The plant's common name, bearberry, references to bears, which particularly enjoy the fruit, but many bird species also rely on the berries as a food source into late fall and winter. Additionally, the berries serve as an important food source for some small mammals. 

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden and have found the information to be useful. Landscaping with wildlife in mind not only enhances the beauty of outdoor spaces but also strengthens local ecosystems. By incorporating certain plantings into your landscape you can play a major role in helping to support local wildlife, especially during the fall and winter months when food sources are scarce. 

Looking for some Garden Inspiration? Purchase My Books:

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations  

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2025. All rights reserved.