10 Best Native Trees for Birds

Rutgers Dogwood

  • Scientific Name: Cornus florida hybrid
  • Average Height: 20 feet to 40 feet
  • Notes: Hybrid resistant to disease; white or pink flowers; fall colors
 Rutgers Dogwood with left detail

Eastern Mayhaw

  • Scientific Name: Crataegus aestivalis
  • Average Height: 15 feet to 30 feet
  • Notes: White flower; red fruit
 Eastern Mayhaw with leaf detail

Parsley Hawthorn

  • Scientific Name: Crataegus marshallii
  • Average Height: 15 feet to 30 feet
  • Notes: Wet to dry soils; parsley-shaped leaf
 Parsley Hawthorn with leaf detail

Big-Leaf Magnolia

  • Scientific Name: Magnolia macrophylla
  • Average Height: 20 feet to 40 feet
  • Notes: 10-inch to 12-inch leaves; red fall color
 Big-Leaf Magnolia with leaf detail

Water Tuepolo

 
  • Scientific Name: Nyssa aquatica
  • Average Height: 60 feet to 100 feet
  • Notes: Wet, swampy soil; red fall color; blue-purple fruit
 Water Tuepolo with leaf detail

Black Gum

  • Scientific Name: Nyssa sylvatica
  • Average Height: 20 feet to 35 feet
  • Notes: Moist to dry soil; early red leaves
 Black Gum with leaf detail

American Plum

  • Scientific Name: Prunus americana
  • Average Height: 25 feet to 30 feet
  • Notes: Moist to dry soil; white flowers; edible red fruit
 American Plum with leaf detail

Staghorn Sumac

  • Scientific Name: Rhus Typhina
  • Average Height: 15 feet to 25 feet
  • Notes: Large red fruit; orange, red, and purple fall colors
 Staghorn Sumac with leaf detail

Common Sassafras

  • Scientific Name: Sassafras albidum
  • Average Height: 20 feet to 50 feet
  • Notes: Dry soil; highly aromatic; used in teas; 3 leaf types; nice fall color
 Common Sassafras with leaf detail

Blackhaw

  • Scientific Name: Viburnum prunifolium
  • Average Height: 12 feet to 20 feet
  • Notes: Dry soil, sun to shade; creamy, flat-topped flowers; blue fruit; red-purple fall color
 Blackhaw with leaf detail

About this page

  • During migration, birds need high-lipid fruits to help them fuel their long journey. High lipid fruits are fruits that contain a lot of fatty compounds.
Silhouette of a bird in flight blue
  • The top 10 most compatible and popular trees with high lipid fruits to attract and support migratory birds for the City of Wilmington are listed on this page.
  • This list was developed by the Wilmington Tree Commission in cooperation with the Arbor Day Foundation, the NC State Cooperative Extension.
  • Please contact your local nursery to determine if it has native plants in stock. Not all businesses are able to stock these plants, and some may only be available in certain seasons.
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