a series about managing your land for wildlife so, what ... · the trees, shrubs and vines are...

Before you begin makingdecisions about what

trees, shrubs or vines youshould plant on your property

to attract wildlife, it isessential that you understand

some fundamental concepts in wildlifemanagement. Be sure to read CallingAll Wildlife in this series to help youwith these concepts and with basichabitat evaluation on your land. Thenlook around your neighborhood, find out

what naturally grows in your area, anddecide how you can enhance the nativehabitat or landscape features on yourproperty. For habitat inventory information,mapping tips and assistance in creating awildlife management plan for your property,refer to Putting Pen to Paper in this series.

Also, read the Wisconsin Wildlife Primerto help you understand which animals occurin your region of Wisconsin, what they eat,

what habitats they prefer and what they needfor nest or den sites. The more informationyou have, the better you’ll understand yourland and the wildlife it supports.

The publication you are now reading will helpyou evaluate the wildlife value of plants cur-rently growing on your property. Once you’veread the other publications mentioned above,use this bulletin to help decide which plantsyou could add to your property to attractwildlife native to the habitats on your land.

All plants described in this publication wereselected for their value to wildlife. Some ofthe plants were selected because they pro-vide good-to-excellent food sources. Somewere selected because they provide maxi-mum winter shelter. Others were selectedbecause they are common on the Wisconsinlandscape, offer some wildlife value, andcould very well be growing on your propertyalready (e.g., mulberry or boxelder).

Tree nurseries and garden catalogs are a lot like candy stores.The color, shape, texture, flowers, fruit and many other factorsprovide a multitude of choices that can entice you to purchasemore plants than you really need, or to buy something you don’tneed at all. Before you buy, consider the following: What plants

are already attracting wildlife to your property? What goodwildlife trees and shrubs are missing? What wildlife do youwant to attract? Can a particular plant grow in your loca-tion and in your soils? This publication will give you the

information you need to make the best plant selections forwildlife on your land.

Wildlife and Your Landa series about managing your land for wildlife

So, What Should I Plant?Trees, Shrubs and Vines with WildlifeValues

When creating a wildlife management planfor your property, keep in mind that—persquare foot of land invested—shrubs willprovide more food and cover for wildlife thantrees. That's because shrubs bear fruit at anearlier age, and they bear that fruit from yearto year more consistently than trees. You willreceive a much faster payback by plantingmore wildlife shrubs than trees. Neverthe-less, the wildlife trees described here provideexcellent food and/or shelter and should beincluded in your plans. You'll just have towait a little longer to reap the benefits.

The geographical location of your property inWisconsin, its soil types and moisture levels,depth to bedrock, the kinds of wildlife thatalready live on your property, and your ownpersonal wildlife management goals willdetermine what plants you should considerusing to attract wildlife.

Native vs. Non-Native

Since the arrival of European settlers, ournative Wisconsin landscape has changeddramatically—its overall biological diversityhas decreased. Today, natural resourcemanagers are dealing with many problemsassociated with the widespread invasion ofnon-native, or alien, plants. Often, thesealien plants are so aggressive in their growth

they choke out, shade out or otherwise out-compete the more beneficial native plantsthat originally grew on Wisconsin's soils.

To help maintain our state's native bio-diversity, choose plants native to Wisconsinsince they are especially suited for our state'sclimate and are part of our natural history.In particular select those native plants whichare adapted for your property and soil types.Some plants introduced from other parts ofthe United States or other countries may notbe hardy enough to withstand the extremesof drought and cold peculiar to Wisconsin.Others may survive all too well and becomeinvasive pests. Cultivars—horticulturally-altered or "improved" varieties of nativeplants—may work well as landscape plantsaround your house, but are inappropriate fornative restorations or wildland plantings.

Sometimes the best thing you can do toimprove your property's ability to attract ahigh-quality assemblage of native wildlife isto control the alien plants that may havetaken hold. This may mean conducting acontrolled burn, pulling new invaders, cuttingbrush and treating the stumps with a brushherbicide, or controlling alien grasses orweeds with an approved herbicide. Contactthe Bureau of Endangered Resources,Madison, to receive a copy of InvasiveSpecies Control Recommendations.

If you don't have a problem with exotics onyour land, you may find that the best way ofenhancing your property for wildlife is toplant trees, shrubs and vines native to yourarea. Sometimes, the best tools of the wildlifemanagement trade are the axe, the matchand the spade.

2 Wildlife and Your Land

Note: Emphasis is placed on native plants,since these are best adapted to Wisconsin'sclimate and soils. Not every plantdescribed here is one that you can readilypurchase at your local nursery. You mayhave to order seeds or potted plants fromone of Wisconsin's native plant nurserieslisted in Getting the Help You Need.Not all native plants described in thispublication are ones that you would wantto plant (boxelder, for example); they havewildlife value, nevertheless and you maywant to keep them on your land if they arealready there.

Plant for Diversity

It is rare in nature to find "monocultures"—large stands of a single plant type. You andyour wild neighbors will be better off if youplant a good assortment of native trees,shrubs and vines adapted to the habitats onyour property. The greater the variety ofnative plants you select, the more wildlifeyour land can support. By selecting anassortment of native plants, you canminimize your risk of losing all your plantsshould disease strike a particular species ofplant. Also, if one species should fail toproduce a nut or fruit crop in a given year,another kind of nut- or fruit-bearing plantcould provide alternative food sources.

Where Can I Get The PlantsI Need?

You can purchase some plants from local ornative plant nurseries or from one of theDepartment of Natural Resources nurserieslisted in Getting the Help You Need inthis publication series. DNR's WilsonNursery in Boscobel specializes in wildlifetrees and shrub packets. Contact your localDNR office for a trees and shrubs order form.If you have questions, or want to make anextensive planting, contact your local DNRwildlife manager or forester. They can giveyou detailed advice about planting, weedcontrol, and special concerns associated withyour specific property and the plants you’reinterested in growing.

Wildlife and Your Land 3

La

ke

Mi c

hi g

an

L a k e

S u p e r i o r

Tension ZoneBoundary

Zone 4

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 4

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Plant Hardiness Zonesand the

Tension Zone

Be sure plants are hardyfor your zone, or if yourplanting area is borderline,pick a sheltered area fortender species.

Wisconsin is divided intotwo distinct floristicprovinces, the southernPrairie-Forest Province,and the northernHardwoods Province. Thearea of overlap of these twofloral realms is called theTension Zone.

Many of the state’s nativeplant species survive, orgrow well, only in theirnatural province, andshould not be planted faroutside of their nativeranges and preferred zones.

The trees, shrubs and vines are divided into6 categories:

1. Vines2. Shrubs3. Fruit-bearing Trees4. Nut-bearing Trees5. Other Deciduous Trees6. Evergreen Trees

We describe the wildlife benefits,geographical range and any special soilcharacteristics for each tree, shrub and vine.If a specific soil type is not listed, assumethat the plant grows on "average" soils thatare neither too wet nor too dry, nor tooinfertile or too organic. When you purchasetrees and shrubs, be sure to use the scientificname to avoid getting the wrong plant. Also,carefully read and follow the plantinginstructions that come with your purchase.

Warning: Rabbits, mice and voles are activeall winter. Since leaves, grass and othertypical summer foods are unavailable, theyoften resort to eating the tender outer barkfrom young trees and shrubs in order tosurvive. To protect your landscapinginvestment from damage by these bark-eating mammals, encircle young yard treesand shrubs with chicken wire, hardware

cloth, plastic tree-guards ortree wrap. For wildland

plantings, mow thegrass surroundingyour plantings to

remove the cover thatrabbits, mice and voles

use. You may want to installraptor perch poles as well. Your local gardencenter can assist you with which choice isappropriate.

Key for the Following Listing:

• Common name of tree, shrub or vine• Scientific name• Planting zones• Season it provides food• Descriptive paragraph about the life cycle

of the plant and the wildlife that uses it.

All the plants in this publication providesome form of nesting, resting or hiding coverfor one animal or another. However, theevergreens are of extreme importance inwinter since their green boughs provide thegreatest shelter from harsh weather. Vinesalso provide excellent year-round shelter forrabbits, some songbirds, pheasants andbobwhite quail.

1. Vines

American BittersweetCelastrus scandensZone 3Winter fruit

American climbingbittersweet is a lowrambling vine thatgrows along fencerows,streams and woodlands inwell-drained soils statewide.The bright red berries are set off by capsulesthat split open to reveal a brilliant yellow-orange interior, which helps verify that it isthe native plant, rather than the similar, butalien bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatis.Beware of this alien; it can be particularlyinvasive and nurseries often sell it instead ofthe native bittersweet. American bittersweetmay retain its fruit throughout the winter.Buy from nurseries or propagate this plantfrom seed or stem cuttings. Do not dig upwild bittersweet—it is becoming rare in someplaces. Many birds eat its seeds, including


Using This Publication

1. Vines

bluebirds and robins. Grouse, pheasants,turkeys and quail eat the seeds and buds.Leaves are often nibbled by rabbits andsquirrels.

Virginia CreeperParthenocissus quinquefoliaZone 4Fall food

Look for this native vinecreeping along theforest floors,growing up treetrunks inWisconsin'ssouthern forests,climbing the sides of abandoned farmbuildings, growing along roadsides, andtrailing along fences. Its striking scarletautumn foliage and deep blue berries onbright red stalks make it a popular choice forbackyard trellises and garden walls. Brownthrashers, bluebirds and robins like the fruit,as do woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatchesand scarlet tanagers. A variety of vireos,warblers, thrushes, finches and smallmammals also enjoy the fruit.

Wild GrapeVitis speciesZones 3 to 5Fall food

Wild grapevinesgrow alongwoodland edgesand up tree trunksor along the forestfloor in openwoodlands. Theyalso are commongrowing alongfencerows. These vines occurthroughout Wisconsin, but are most commonin southern farmlands. Summer grape (Vitisaestiralis) and riverbank grape (Vitis riparia)are two native grapes. Grapes can be veryaggressive and cover and shade out othervegetation. The berries are consumed by

raccoons, red foxes, black bears, opossums,skunks, quail, wild turkeys, ruffed andsharp-tailed grouse, and such songbirds asblue and gray jays, thrushes, brownthrashers, gray catbirds, cedar waxwings,Baltimore orioles, scarlet tanagers,cardinals, and some vireos, warblers,blackbirds, grackles and finches. Deer likethe leaves and twigs. Some birds use theshredded bark to build their nests.

Bristly Greenbrier Smilax hispidaZone 5Summer fruit

This native climbingvine, covered withtiny thorns, formstangled, pricklythickets in foreststhroughout the state.Some forms ofgreenbrier are knownas carrion flowers. Onecarrion flower (Smilaxecirrhata) can be found growing in lowlandwoods in southern Wisconsin, while commoncarrion flower (Smilax lasioneura) is foundgrowing in open woods and along fencerows.Another carrion flower (Smilax herbacea) isgenerally uncommon. The tangled nature ofgreenbriers make them excellent cover forwildlife. Deer and rabbits browse the vine,and small mammals, ring-necked pheasants,gray catbirds, cardinals, thrushes andsparrows eat the blue-black berries.

TrumpetvineCampsis radicansZone 5Summer nectar

This vine, native tothe southern UnitedStates, makes anattractive addition tobackyard landscapes. Ithas large, orange-red,trumpet-shaped blossomswhich later turn into six-


inch-long, slender fruit pods. The blooms ofthis ornamental landscape plant attract ruby-throated hummingbirds.

2. Shrubs

BlackberryRubus

allegheniensisBlack RaspberryRubus occidentalisThimbleberryRubus parviflorusZones 3 to 4Summer fruit

Blackberries,raspberries andthimbleberries growalong woodlandedges, fencerows andclearings. Blackberries andraspberries grow statewide, whilethimbleberries grow only in the LakeSuperior region. Blackberries need full sun;raspberries and thimbleberries tolerate someshade. All provide excellent summertime foodfor more than 100 different kinds of birds andmammals. Just about every kind of woodlandedge bird feasts on the berries, from catbirds,brown thrashers, pine grosbeaks, orioles,robins and other thrushes to scarlet tanagers,blue jays, cardinals, pheasants, yellow-breasted chats and fox sparrows. Ruffed andsharp-tailed grouse, bobwhite quail, turkeysand woodcock also consume the berries, as doblack bears, raccoons, chipmunks andsquirrels. The dense, prickly thickets providegood escape cover for rabbits, chipmunks andbirds. Beware of planting these berries insmall areas. They tend to spread quiteaggressively and can quickly take up a greatdeal of space, as well as prevent you frommoving about in the area.

Green AlderAlnus viridisSpeckled AlderAlnus incanaSmooth AlderAlnus serrulataZones 3 to 5Spring and summer

food

Alders thrive in thicketsfound in moist meadows andstreambank floodplainsthroughout northern, centraland southern Wisconsin. The green alder isfound in bogs, cool woods, and shores. Theshrubs can grow to a height of over eight feet.Speckled alder is hardy farther north andtolerates more shade. Green alder is oftenfound growing along lakeshores. Grouse andsmall mammals take cover in these thicketsand woodcock find them ideal for nesting.Goldfinches, pine siskins, redpolls and sharp-tailed grouse eat the seeds, while ruffedgrouse consume the buds, catkins and seeds.Beavers, snowshoe hares and deer browse onthe leaves and twigs. None of these areornamental plants. Beware of the alienEuropean alder (Alnus glutinosa); it is veryinvasive.

Gray DogwoodCornus racemosaZone 4Late summer and fall

food

This shrub grows up to 7feet high on a variety ofsoils throughout Wiscon-sin. It needs full sun, andsince it regenerates fromunderground stems, it formsclumps. Gray dogwood has highwildlife value, especially in August when itssmall, white berries ripen. Woodcock andsongbirds take cover in gray dogwoodthickets, and evening grosbeaks, cardinals,cedar waxwings, pheasants, ruffed grouseand bobwhite quail relish its fruit. Black


thimbleberry

green alder

2. Shrubs

bears, squirrels, beavers, raccoons andskunks eat the fruits and leaves. It can beinvasive in prairie areas and can spreadaggressively. Controlled burning provides agood management tool. Better yet, cut stemsin summer or fall and apply herbicide to thecut stems.

Red-osier Dogwood Cornus sericeaZone 3 to 5Fall food

This dogwood withbright red stemsand showy whiteflowers is commonin swamps and wetmeadows, and is adominant shrub inspecial habitatsknown as shrubcarrs. It is extremelywinter-hardythroughout Wisconsin.Its colorful appearance makes it a popularornamental for landscaping. May flowersproduce a clump of small white berries bymid-summer. Red-osier dogwood grows from4 to 10 feet tall on wet to well-drained soilsin sun or shade. In late winter and earlyspring, the stems turn from a brown-red to abright red, providing an exciting splash ofcolor to an otherwise white, snow-coveredlandscape. Wild turkeys, ruffed grouse,bobwhite quail, woodpeckers, flycatchers,catbirds, brown thrashers, cedar waxwings,cardinals and grosbeaks feed heavily on theberries. This shrub provides excellent cover,but can spread in wetland areas and needs tobe controlled with prescribed burning.

Silky DogwoodCornus amomumZone 5Late summer and fall

food

Silky dogwood growsto 4–10 feet tall, prefersmoist soils, and grows in shade or fullsun along the edges of marshes or wetmeadows. Landowners like the white flowersthat bloom in May and mature into blue berry-like fruits in August. Silky dogwood is primefood for the cardinal, evening grosbeak, robinand pine grosbeak, which glean the berries offby September. Wild turkeys, ruffed grouse,bobwhite quail and ring-necked pheasantsrelish both the buds and the berries. Deer,squirrels, black bears and beavers browse onthe stems and leaves.

Common ElderberrySambucus canadensisZone 5Summer food

Elderberry is a tallshrub that can growup to 10 feet high inaverage to moistsoils statewideexcept in the farnorth, in disturbedareas like roadsidesand fencerows. Thefruits are eaten by people andwildlife. Beware—the red fruits from therelated Sambucus pubens can be toxic. Theshowy white flowers of common elderberrymake this a landscape shrub to consider.However, it has straggly long stems andrelatively few leaves. It makes a goodornamental if bunched with other shrubs.Eastern bluebirds, ring-necked pheasants,wild turkeys, mourning doves, grouse,grosbeaks, woodpeckers, squirrels andrabbits eat the fruits; white-tailed deerbrowse on the leaves.


American HazelnutCorylus americanaBeaked HazelnutCorylus cornutaZones 3 to 4Fall and winter food

If you live north of thetension zone, (see mapon page 3), plant beakedhazelnut; if you live on thesouth side of the zone, orin dry, sandy woods,plant American hazel-nut. These bushes grow best onmoist, fertile soils in thickets andmake good hedgerows andwoodland border plants. Hazelnuts areconsumed by fox and red squirrels, easternand least chipmunks, blue jays, hairywoodpeckers, wild turkeys and ring-neckedpheasant. Ruffed grouse readily ingest thecatkins. Deer, moose, snowshoe hares andbeavers eat the leaves and twigs. The densethickets make good cover for woodcock,grouse and small mammals.

NinebarkPhysocarpusopulifoliusZones 3 to 5Fall and winter food

Ninebark is a goodchoice for very drysites and is foundfrom blufftop "goatprairies" to sedgemeadows. The small whiteflowers are attractive in Mayand develop into brownishcapsules in September. It getsits name because its bark peels off in paperystrips resembling “9s.” This shrub may reach10 feet high at maturity. Ruffed grouse eatthe buds and some songbirds eat the smallseeds. The primary wildlife value of ninebarkis the cover its multi-stemmed, archingbranches provide to small mammals andnesting birds.

American Highbush CranberryViburnum trilobumZones 3 to 5Winter Food

Highbush cranberrygrows in moist tomedium-moistwoods but it cantolerate full sun-light. This shrubin the Viburnum familyreaches 10–13 feet in height. Itsattractive white flower clusters in May turninto bright orange-red fruits by September,making it a popular landscape shrub. Thetart fruits are not very palatable to mostbirds and so persist on the shrub throughoutwinter. They provide a late-winter emergencyfood source for songbirds, grouse, pheasants,wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, cottontailrabbits and small mammals. Rabbits andsmall rodents eat the bark of young plants.Cedar waxwings prefer these berries as alate winter food after freezing has"sweetened" them. Be sure not to plant thealien European highbush cranberry(Viburnum opulus), for it is an invasive andpersistent non-native.

NannyberryViburnum lentagoZone 3MapleleafViburnumViburnumacerifoliumZone 3ArrowwoodViburnum dentatumZone 4Late summer, fall,

and winter food

These are three other popular Viburnums.Arrowwood and nannyberry grow best in theshade of woodland borders across southernWisconsin. Mapleleaf viburnum is a three- tosix-foot shrub preferring forest shade. Theyare planted in backyards for their flowers and


nannyberry

American

beaked

showy dark blue-to-black fruits. Nannyberrymakes excellent winter food. Ruffed grouse,brown thrashers, cedar waxwings, thrushes,woodpeckers, several finches, red squirrelsand deer eat the fruit of these Viburnumshrubs.

Staghorn SumacRhus typhinaSmooth SumacRhus glabraFragrant SumacRhus aromaticaZone 4Winter food

Sumacs formthickets alongroadsides,clearings,fencerows andwoodland edges insandier soils state-wide. All need fullsun. Staghorn sumachas brilliant scarlet foliage in the fall andshowy red fruit throughout winter. Sumac isbeneficial for a variety of wildlife; however,you should consider carefully beforeestablishing these shrubs if they are notpresently on your property. Smooth andstaghorn sumacs grow rapidly in spreading,circular colonies, and spread as well by seed;it can be difficult to control once established.Fragrant sumac is a beautiful landscapeplant, and is adapted to dry-to-average,moist rocky woodlands. Sumac fruit clustersare an important winter survival food forring-necked pheasants, ruffed grouse,bobwhite quail, woodpeckers, blue jays,chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches, deer andcottontail rabbits. Deer, cottontails andsquirrels nibble on the bark and twigs. Inaddition, staghorn sumac attracts butterflies.

Wild RoseRosa speciesZones 3 to 5Winter Food

Wild roses grow inthickets inmeadows, openwoods, streammargins, fencerows,roadsides and woodlandedges across the state. Toomany varieties exist tomention individually. Mosthave beautiful flowers, and their rosehips areeaten as emergency winter food by ring-necked pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse andprairie chickens. Deer, cottontail rabbits andsmall mammals browse the twigs. If youintend to plant wild roses, do not plant thealien multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora). Thisinvasive non-native is illegal to plant underthe Wisconsin nuisance weed law because itis very aggressive and spreads rapidly.

3. Fruit-bearing Trees

Prairie CrabapplePyrus ioensisSweet CrabapplePyrus coronariaZone 5Fall and winter food

Some crabapples growup to 25 feet high and canbe planted on many soil typesthroughout Wisconsin. Make surethe tree you plant is winter hardyin your area. The alien Siberian crab (Malusbaccata) is a large crab hardy throughoutWisconsin. It occasionally escapes to the wild.The Sargent crab (Malus sargentii) is also analien. It produces abundant white to pinkblossoms in May. The tiny 1/4 inch red, yellowor orange fruits mature in September.Landowners cherish crabapples for theirfragrant and colorful spring blossoms, andwildlife also consume the fruit. Crabapples


smooth

staghornfragrant

3. Fruit-bearing Trees

make good winter food. Nearly 30 differentkinds of birds eat the small apples, includingcedar waxwings and robins. White-tailed deerand mallard ducks will also eat fruit that hasfallen on the ground. Cottontail rabbits anddeer will nibble on the leaves and bark.

HawthornCrataegus speciesZone 5Winter food

These thorny treesor large shrubs createthickets in old pasturesand open woodlands.They make a greatshelterbelt, backyard orwoodland edge shrubs.Numerous kindsof hawthorns arenative to Wisconsin. Be sure to avoid thecultivars. In spring, honeybees andbumblebees swarm to the sweet-smelling,nectar-rich blossoms. In winter, fruitsprovide food for ruffed and sharp-tailedgrouse, cedar waxwings, fox sparrows,thrushes and finches. Black bears andraccoons also consume the fruits, whilewhite-tailed deer and cottontail rabbitsbrowse on the twigs and bark. Many animalstake cover in the thickets that hawthornsform. Brown thrashers often find theseshrubs to be prime nest sites, and northernshrikes use the thorns to impale their preybefore feeding.

Black CherryPrunus serotinaPin CherryPrunus pensylvanicaChoke CherryPrunus virginianaZones 3 to 4Summer food

Black cherry grows most commonly insouthern hardwood forests. This is the largestcherry and can reach 75 feet in height. Pincherry and choke cherry reach approximately

25 feet in height. Pin cherrygrows in woods, thickets andclearings primarily in the north,while choke cherry growsalong thickets,woodland borders andshorelines statewide.All native cherriesmake good plantingsaround the border ofyour yard. Cherriesare one of the bestwildlife food trees. Thefruit is favored by ruffedgrouse, ring-necked pheasants,robins, brown thrashers, graycatbirds, blue jays, cedar waxwings, thrushes,vireos, grosbeaks, finches, flycatchers andred-bellied and red-headed woodpeckers.Black bears, red foxes, cottontail rabbits,raccoons, squirrels, eastern chipmunks andmice eat fruit that has fallen to the ground.Deer and rabbits nibble on the leaves andtwigs. Do not plant where cattle graze sincethe bark and leaves contain hydrocyanic acid,which is a poison to livestock.

American Mountain AshSorbus americanaZone 3Fall and winter food

In Wisconsin, this treeis found on moist soilsor shallow dry soils.Attractive leaves,blossoms andbright orange fruitmake this small treepopular withlandowners. It grows on avariety of soils in coolclimates statewide. The fruitprovides winter food for cedarwaxwings, evening and pinegrosbeaks, sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse,red-headed woodpeckers, and thrushes.Watch for tipsy birds as they get intoxicatedon fermented berries in late winter. Protectnew plantings from deer or they’ll nip the


black

choke

tender twigs and leaves. Mountain ash alsoattracts eastern tent caterpillars and is verysusceptible to fire blight disease. Avoid thealien European Mountain Ash (Sorbusacuparia), which is non-native and can beinvasive.

Wild PlumPrunus americanaZone 3 to 5Fall food

Wild plum grows indense thicketsalong sunnyroadsides andfencerows, often amidstother trees or shrubs.Individuals can grow up to15 feet tall. Landownerslike the white blossoms that bloom in May.The one-inch, red-orange to blue sweet plumsmature in August. Avoid cultivars andexotics. Wild plums provide excellent nestinghabitat for many songbirds and cover forsmall mammals. Foxes and other mammalseat the fruit and deer browse on the leavesand twigs. The fruit also makes excellentjelly and jam.

Eastern Serviceberry or ShadbushAmelanchier canadensisDowny ServiceberryAmelanchier arboreaSmooth ServiceberryAmelanchier laevisZones 3 to 5Early summer food

Serviceberries arealso referred to asJuneberry or shadbush.Eastern serviceberrycan be found in swamps and moistwoods in Wisconsin. The downy serviceberrygrows in dry upland woods, while the smoothserviceberry prefers dry or moist uplandwoods. These small trees are known for theirdelicate white flowers and delicious fruit.Serviceberry bears fruit in late June, making

it one of the earliest summer berries. Severalnative varieties provide a good selection forlandowners. Robins and other thrushes,woodpeckers, eastern kingbirds, cedarwaxwings, Baltimore orioles, scarlettanagers, red-eyed vireos, cardinals and rose-breasted grosbeaks relish the sweet, purplefruit, as do fox and gray squirrels, easternchipmunks and black bears. White-taileddeer and cottontail rabbits browse the leavesand twigs. The fruit tastes and can be usedmuch like blueberries.

Red MulberryMorus rubraZone 5Early summer fruit

The red mulberry isa native to southernWisconsin and canbe found in richwoods, especiallyfloodplains. However, be awarethat this wildlife tree’s fruit can be messyand can stain sidewalks and cars in urbanareas. The tree is particularly abundant infarmyards and even in cities and suburbs. Anexcellent fruit-bearer, the red mulberry isattractive to many kinds of wildlife.Songbirds from Baltimore orioles, robins,rose-breasted grosbeaks, blue jays and crowsto brown thrashers, cedar waxwings, scarlettanagers, indigo buntings, woodpeckers,vireos and finches quickly consume the large,juicy fruits that ripen so early in summerbefore most other berries. Raccoons andopossums also gorge on the plentiful harvest.Avoid the invasive alien white mulberry(Morus alba).


4. Nut-bearing Trees

BeechFagus grandifoliaZone 3Fall and winterfood

Beech trees grownear Lake Michi-gan where the lakecreates the cool, moistenvironment that thesetrees prefer. They grow beston good quality, rich soils.While beeches may beplanted farther inland,hard winter freezes may kill them. This treeis beautiful in fall and its nuts provideexcellent wildlife food for squirrels, chip-munks, bears, porcupines, grouse and manysongbirds such as blue jays, chickadees,tufted titmice, blackbirds and woodpeckers.The nut crop is large about every 2 or 3 years.

ButternutJuglans cinereaZones 3 to 5Fall food

This hardy treegrows on rich soilswith other hardwoodsin southern Wisconsin.Woodpeckers, wildturkeys, and fox andgray squirrels crackopen the toughshells to get at thetasty butternutsinside. Woodducks, finches and songbirds eat thebuds. Keep a watchful eye on these trees,they are very susceptible to Butternut cankerdisease. For more information on this diseaseor other forest diseases, contact DNR's forestpathology office at (608) 275-3273. Anextensive search is underway to find butternuttrees resistant to the canker disease, so please

report the existence of uncankered maturetrees to this same contact.

Black WalnutJuglans nigraZones 4 to 5Fall and winter food

Black walnut treesgrow mainly insouthern hardwoodforests on deep,well-drained, siltyloam soils, and oftenreach a height of 100feet. Despite the thick andcoarse bark, the blackwalnut makes a greatcavity and den treefor a variety ofanimals. They’realso highly valuedfor their wood. Fox andgray squirrels and red-bellied woodpeckerscrack the very hard nuts of black walnut toget at the nutmeat inside. Squirrels bury thenuts in the fall and make use of them inearly spring when the ground thaws. Avoidplanting black walnuts near vegetablegardens; they secret juglanic acid into thesoil which inhibits plant growth, especiallythose plants in the tomato-potato family.


4. Nut-bearing Trees

Shagbark HickoryCarya ovataBitternut HickoryCarya cordiformisZone 5Fall and earlywinter food

Shagbark hickory grows insouthern Wiscon-sin on fertilesoils. It is slowgrowing, long-lived and mayreach a height of100 feet. Whenits leaves turndeep yellow infall, many peoplecollect the tastynuts. Bitternuthickory is found statewide inassociation with other hardwood trees,and reaches a maximum height of around 75feet. The nuts of the bitternut hickory arejust that—bitter. Shagbark and bitternuthickories produce large nuts that are afavorite of fox and gray squirrels, easternchipmunks and red-bellied woodpeckers.Wood ducks, ring-necked pheasants,bobwhite quail, wild turkeys, red foxes andblack bears also consume these small, hard-shelled nuts. Deer browse the leaves andtwigs.

White OakQuercus albaBur OakQuercus macrocarpaSwamp White OakQuercus bicolorRed OakQuercus rubraBlack OakQuercus velutinaNorthern Pin OakQuercus ellipsoidalisZones 4 to 5Fall and winter food

Oaks are consideredone of the mostimportant wildlife treesin Wisconsin. Theseslow growers vary inheight from 45–100 feetand have very long life spans.Though found statewide, red oak is morecommon on better soils. White oak and blackoak grow in dry to average-moisture forestsoils statewide. The bur oak is found in theaverage to dry soils of southern Wisconsinprairies and savannas. The less commonnorthern pin oak is found mostly in northernWisconsin forests on sandy soils. Swampwhite oak is common in the floodplains alongthe Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers andtheir tributaries. Northern pin, black, andred oaks are susceptible to oak wilt if it is inthe area. Larger oaks are difficult totransplant, so your best bet is to plant themas acorns or young seedlings. Protect theseedlings from browsing rabbits and deer. Alloaks provide excellent wildlife benefits.Grouse, wood ducks, quail, wild turkeys, bluejays, white-breasted nuthatches, thrushes,rufous-sided towhees, brown thrashers, red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers, yellow-shafted flickers, grackles, black bears,raccoons, gray, fox, flying and red squirrels,deer, eastern chipmunks, white-footed miceand many other animals feast on acorns eachfall. Oak trees also make good den trees forcavity-dwelling birds and mammals.


shagbark

bitternut oryellowbud

bur

red

5. Other Deciduous Trees

Green AshFraxinus pennsylvanicaWhite AshFraxinus americanaBlack AshFraxinus nigraZones 3 to 4Fall and winter food

Ashes are fast-growing, moderatelyshade-tolerant treesfound in hardwood stands statewide.Growing up to 90 feet at maturity, they makegreat shade trees, especially on rich, moistsoils. Plant black ash in floodplains in low,swampy sites; white ash in upland areas;green ash in either place. If you’re plantinggreen or white ash, avoid all cultivars.Interestingly, ashes are either male or femaletrees and only the females produce seeds. Itis difficult to tell the males from femaleswhen the trees are seedlings. Ash seeds are apreferred food of pine grosbeaks in winter;flocks alight on trees and strip the seed-wingoff to get at the kernel inside. Ashes providea supplementary source of nutrition for redfoxes, snowshoe hares and opossums.Beavers and deer browse on tender twigs andstems. Porcupines will eat the bark.

Big-Toothed AspenPopulus

grandidentataQuaking AspenPopulus tremuloidesZones 1 to 4Winter and spring food

Quaking and big-toothed aspen growrapidly on average todry soils statewide,though they are morecommon in the north. Aspen, also calledpoplar or popple, grows up to 60 feet andreaches maturity at 50 years, after which itrapidly declines and can make a good cavity

tree long before other hardwood trees. Avoidplanting the alien weedy white or silverpoplar (Populus alba) and the disease-proneLombardy poplar (Populus nigra italica).Aspen is the favorite food of many animals,especially deer, grouse and beavers. Prairiechickens, sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse andnorthern finches feast on the resinous budsand catkins. White-tailed deer, snowshoehares, porcupines and beavers browse onleaves and young stems. To regenerateaspen, clearcut an existing aspen stand—thetrees are shade intolerant and regeneratevery well by root sprouts. Aspen are short-lived and their soft, punky wood is used bywoodpeckers and chickadees for nest cavities.The trunks and branches of aspen areimportant for beaver when building theirdams and lodges. Do not plant aspen nearprairies or savanna areas; the trees willspread and out-compete prairie vegetation.Excessive spread of aspen is best controlledby girdling.

BasswoodTilia americanaZones 3 to 5Summer food

Basswood is acomponent of northernand southern hard-wood stands. It growsup to 80 feet in height alongwell-drained bottom-lands and in average tomoist woodland soils.Basswood makes a greatden tree for wildlife. Squirrels,chipmunks and rabbits love thenutlets. Rabbits and deer eat theleaves and tender twigs.


5. Other Deciduous Trees

quaking ortrembling

big-toothed

Yellow BirchBetula alleghaniensisPaper BirchBetula papyriferaRiver BirchBetula nigraZones 3 to 4Fall and winter food

Yellow birch, whichgrows on moist soiltypes in northernWisconsin, reachesheights up to 85 feet.Paper birch, foundstatewide on betterquality sand and gravel soils inassociation with pine and aspen, grows to65–70 feet in height. Paper birch is plantedwidely for its attractive papery white bark,but it is susceptible to numerous diseasesand such insects as the bronze birch borer.River birch, with its bronze papery bark,grows along the floodplains of the Mississippiand Wisconsin rivers and their tributaries.All birches provide good browse for white-tailed deer and moose. The shreddy barkprovides nest material for vireos, warblersand tanagers. Ruffed and sharp-tailed grousefeed on the catkins, buds and seeds, whilethe pine siskin and common redpoll consumethe seeds. Beavers, snowshoe hares andporcupines prefer to eat leaves and stems.Chickadees, titmice and several woodpeckersuse dead or dying birch for nesting cavities.

American ElmUlmus americanaSlippery (Red) ElmUlmus rubraRock ElmUlmus thomasiiZone 3Late winter and early spring food

American and rock elm trees can reach 100feet in height, while slippery elms generallyonly reach a height of 70 feet. Slippery elm isfound statewide along streambanks and fertilehillsides, though it is rare in the north.

American elm isfound statewide inrich moist soils,especially in flood-plains, but DutchElm disease hassignificantly reducedits numbers. Newvarieties of disease-resistant elmshave been devel-oped. Rock elm isalso found throughoutthe state in rich uplandwoods. Avoid plantingthe alien, weedy Siberianelm (Ulmus pimila) and Chineseelm (Ulmus parvifolia). Elm buds and wingedseeds are used by various songbirds,gamebirds and squirrels, especially since theseeds ripen early in spring, long before otherseeds are available. Wild turkeys, ring-neckedpheasants, bobwhite quail, sharp-tailedgrouse, prairie chickens, wood ducks, andsongbirds such as black-capped chickadees andpurple finches favor the seeds and buds. Grayand fox squirrels eat the swollen buds in earlyspring. Beavers and cottontail rabbits consumethe bark off of tender twigs. Baltimore oriolesoften select elms from which to weave theirpendulous nests.

HackberryCeltis occidentalisZone 5Fall and winter food

This native of southernWisconsin can grow upto 75 feet on a variety ofsoils ranging from swampyfloodplains to limestone hills.Although hackberries aresusceptible to insect galls, theyare not harmed by the insects. Thehackberry fruit is a winter food source forcedar waxwings, yellow-bellied sapsuckers,brown thrashers, robins, finches andthrushes. Gray foxes, opossums and flyingsquirrels also eat the fruits.


yellow

paper

river

American

slipperyor red

rock

Sugar MapleAcer saccharumRed MapleAcer rubrumSilver MapleAcer saccharinumZones 3 to 4Spring and fallfood

Sugar and redmaples, noted fortheir stunning fallfoliage and coolingshade, are commoncomponents of hardwoodstands statewide. Sugarmaple grows over 100 feet inheight on fertile soils. Red maple, reachingup to 65 feet tall, can be found not only onfairly infertile, dry hillsides but also in lowwet forests. Fast-growing, weak-woodedsilver maples are found growing infloodplains and other moist soils inWisconsin. They reach a maximum of 100feet in height. Avoid planting the invasive,non-native Norway maple (Acer platanoides)and the alien Amur maple (Acer ginnala) andall cultivars. Sugar maple, also known as“hard maple,” produces its winged"helicopter" seeds in summer and fall. Silverand red maple, referred to as “soft maples,”bear their seeds in spring and early summer.Evening grosbeaks, pine grosbeaks, purplefinches and red-breasted nuthatches eat theseeds, buds and flowers of the maple.Porcupines gnaw on the bark, while red, grayand fox squirrels and eastern chipmunksstore and eat the winged seeds. Prairiewarblers nest in 3–6 foot tall red maples.White-tailed deer browse heavily on twigsand leaves. Maples also make great, long-lived cavity trees.

BoxelderAcer negundoZone 3 to 5Summer food

You’ll find boxeldergrowing up to 50 feethigh along fencerowsand old farmsteads,primarily in southernWisconsin's prairie savannaregion as well as alongfloodplains. It is an ungainly tree withbrittle branches. Female trees produce hugeseed crops that mature in late summer andpersist through winter. Evening grosbeaks,finches and other songbirds eat the seeds,buds and flowers of the boxelder. Deer andsquirrels browse on its leaves. These treesalso attract boxelder beetles that will oftenseek out the warmth in your house come fall;however, they are not harmful to the trees oryour home. Boxelder's fast-growing, weakwood frequently forms cavities that makegood dens for flying squirrels, gray and foxsquirrels, raccoons and woodpeckers.Although boxelder has some good wildlifeattracting qualities, we don’t recommendplanting this weedy, invasive tree if you don’thave it on your property already.

WillowSalix speciesZones 3 to 5Summer browse–winter

food

Many varieties of willow treesand shrubs grow throughoutWisconsin. These fastgrowers are oftenplanted near waterwhere they range in height from shrubs totall trees. Most have very weak wood. Thebuds and twigs are eaten by grouse and deer,while grosbeaks eat just the buds. Beaversand snowshoe hares nibble on the bark, budsand twigs. Be aware that the familiarweeping willow (Salix babylonica) is notnative to Wisconsin.


silver

sugar

red

6. Evergreens

Balsam FirAbies balsameaZone 3Fall and winter food

A tree of northernforests, balsam firprefers cool, moist,shady places out ofreach of strong winds.Its soft needles andsymmetrical shapemake it a popularChristmas tree choice.Mature trees reach 60 feet and are very long-lived, though they are susceptible to sprucebud worm and balsam woody aphid. Balsamfir stands make good cover for many birdsand small mammals. Seeds are nibbled bythe black-capped chickadees, red-breastednuthatches, blue jays and red crossbills.Seeds, bark and wood are gnawed by redsquirrels, voles, mice, snowshoe hares andeastern chipmunks. White-tailed deer, mooseand spruce grouse also browse on the twigsof balsam fir.

Northern White Cedar or “Arbor Vitae”Thuja occidentalisZone 3Fall and early winter food

A popular deer food,white cedar growsin northern Wis-consin swampswhere it forms densestands. This tree israre in other areas ofthe state unlessplanted. Pine siskins,common redpolls, andred squirrels eat thewinged seeds of thislong-lived tree thatgrows up to 60 feet.White cedar swamps are

critical overwinter habitat for deer innorthern Wisconsin. Because white cedar is afavorite browse of deer, these mammals arepreventing natural regeneration in manyareas.

Eastern Red CedarJuniperus virginianaZone 4Fall, winter and spring food

Red cedar grows on dry, gravelly soils androcky ledges in southwestern Wisconsin. It isalso common in abandoned farm fields, fence-rows and along country roadsides. Theseevergreens reach up to 60 feet in height,forming dense cedar glades. Red cedarprovides cover for the robin, chipping sparrow,junco and a variety of warblers. Cedarwaxwings, evening and pine grosbeaks, purplefinches, eastern chipmunks and white-footedmice prefer the bluish-black, berry-like fruit.Deer will eat twigs and leaves of red cedar. Ifplanted as an ornamental, be aware that redcedar is an alternate host for cedar rust,which damages crabapple trees. Manyornamental varieties of cedar exist and shouldbe avoided. Be aware that cedars can shadeout prairie vegetation and any ground flora inyards, and will spread rapidly. They should beaggressively controlled in native prairie areasby cutting.

HemlockTsuga canadensisZone 4Fall and winter food

A stately, tall tree,the hemlock occursin the northernforests of Wiscon-sin. It prefers cool,moist, heavily-shaded less-disturbed forests withrich soils. Hemlock can reproduceunder the shade of evergreen and hardwoodforests, and at maturity can reach a height of100 feet. Hemlock is a highly valued wildlifefood. Deer prefer hemlock and will heavily


white cedar

red cedar(juniper)

6. Evergreens

browse the branches and tips, seriouslylimiting the trees' growth and reproduction,especially of those trees located near deerwintering yards. Dense branches providecover for ruffed grouse, white-tailed deer andwarblers such as black-throated greenwarbler and blackburnian warbler. The slate-colored (dark-eyed) junco, goshawk, ravenand other wildlife of northern Wisconsin findrefuge amongst its boughs. Pine siskins,crossbills and boreal chickadees eat theseeds, while porcupines enjoy the bark, twigsand seeds.

Jack PinePinus banksianaZone 3 to 5Fall and winter food

This sun-lovingconifer can befound growing onthe sandy soils of thenorthern half of Wisconsin and along theWisconsin River in the south. It can reach 70feet in height at maturity. It requires fire torelease seeds from the tightly closed cones.Jack pine makes great cover for songbirds,deer, rabbits and small mammals. The redsquirrel, pine siskin and purple finch eat theseeds once released by fire.

White PinePinus strobusZones 3 to 5Fall and winter food

White pine growsstatewide, but is mostcommon in the northwhere majesticindividuals canreach 150 feet inheight. White pine is animportant component of hilland rocky bluff pine forests insouth central and southwest Wisconsin. Itprefers fertile, well-drained soils, but cantolerate sandy soils. This fast-growingconifer is often planted as an ornamental

near houses, as well as planted in shelter-belts. Young pine stands provide goodthermal cover during winter for deer andbirds. Seeds are eaten by red squirrels, mice,chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches,woodpeckers, grosbeaks, pine warblers,brown creepers, pine siskins and crossbills.Deer and spruce grouse nibble the needles.Beavers and snowshoe hares consume thebark. Large white pines provide roosts forwild turkeys and ruffed grouse, and nestingsites for ospreys and eagles.

Red PinePinus resinosaZones 3 to 5Fall and winter food

Red pine grows inpure stands in manyparts of northern Wis-consin and in isolatedstands as far south as DaneCounty. These conifers occasionally reach120 feet in height, but are generally only 90feet tall. Because of its general freedom fromdisease and insect attacks, red pine isfrequently planted in pine plantations. Suchplantations have little value to wildlifebecause of a lack of understory growth.Nevertheless, as a small conifer, these treescan provide thermal shelter to wildlife inwinter. Seeds are eaten by red squirrels,mice, chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches,woodpeckers, grosbeaks, pine warblers,brown creepers, pine siskins and crossbills.Ospreys and eagles nest in large red pines.


White SprucePicea glaucaBlack SprucePicea marianaZone 3Fall and winter food

White sprucegrows up to 80 feethigh on moist well-drained soils innorthern forests.It can also befound in mixedconifer-hardwoodstands and balsam-tamarack swamps. It isan attractive evergreen,planted ornamentallystatewide. This spruce is alsoplanted for shelterbelts and plantations.Black spruce grows only in wet northernforests, including bogs, and reaches up to 60feet tall. It is often associated with tamarack,balsam fir and white spruce. Both spruceshave dense branches, which they retain lowto the ground. This provides some of the bestwinter cover for songbirds and rabbits, andnesting cover for songbirds in spring.Woodpeckers, chickadees, red-breastednuthatches, grosbeaks, finches and crossbillsglean the winged seed from the cones.Porcupines browse on twigs and bark.Woodpeckers, thrushes, kinglets, warblersand finches nest amidst the boughs. Sprucegrouse and snowshoe hares feed heavily onthe needles. As a last resort in hard winters,deer will browse on spruce twigs and needles.

Tamarack (American larch)Larix laricinaZone 3 to 5Fall food

Tamarack grows innorthern swamps andin scatteredsouthern low-lands that havewet soils. It willnot do well ifplanted on up-land sites. It isWisconsin's only coniferthat sheds its needles each fall, after theneedles turn a bright golden color thatstands out in stark contrast to neighboringspruces. Songbirds eat the seeds of thetamarack. This tree will not survive inupland areas.


white

black


Plants to Avoid

The following plants and their cultivarshave the potential to invade wild areasand out-compete native species, degrad-ing habitats and causing extensiveecological damage.

Treescommon buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)glossy/columnar buckthorn (Rhamnus

frangula)European Mountain Ash (Sorbus

aucuparia)Amur maple (Acer ginnala)Norway maple (Acer platanoides)black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)Chinese elm (Ulmus parviflora)Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)European or black alder (Alnus

glutinosa)white poplar (Populus alba)Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra italica)

Shrubsall bush honeysuckles (Lonicera tatarica,

L. x bella, L. morrowii, L. aackii)Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)European barberry (Berberis vulgaris)multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)European cranberry bush (Vibernumopulus)common privet (Ligustrum vulgare)burning bush/winged euonymus(Euonymus alatus)autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

Vinesround-leaved bittersweet (Celastrus

orbiculatus)wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)porcelain berry (Ampelopsis

brevipedunculata)periwinkle (Vinca minor)English ivy (Hedera helix)

buckthorn

black locust

periwinkle

honeysuckle

privet

Europeancranberry

Lombardypopular

black alder

barberry

a series about managing your land for wildlife so, what ... · the trees, shrubs and vines are...

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