Homeowners who enjoy welcoming wildlife into their yard may notice that planting the right tree helps extend the invite to birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer. Choosing the right plants creates the ideal atmosphere for backyard wildlife and this article showcases five tree varieties to plant in Minnesota to attract wildlife.
1. ‘Minnesota Strain’ Redbud Tree
The ‘Minnesota Strain’ Redbud tree was developed by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to produce a hardy Redbud tree that’s hardy to our winters. This tree blooms in the early-spring with sprays of tiny pink flowers and heart-shaped leaves. The flowers of this Redbud variety provide nectar for bees and butterflies, while the buds and seed pods serve as food for songbirds, game birds, and small mammals. This tree grows to between 120 and 30 feet tall.
2. American Elderberry Tree
This tree only reaches between 5 and 12 feet in height, but still offers nectar-rich flowers and juicy purple berries. Butterflies and birds enjoy shelter from predators in the thick branches of the American Elderberry. People find elderberries delicious in baked goods and jellies and sometimes use them in folk medicine.
3. White Oak Tree
The slow-growing White Oak tree makes its long development worth the wait. Reaching between 50 and 80 feet tall, this tree provides ample shade during hot days. The tree trunk remains short and stocky, while the White Oak’s height comes from its long limbs.
In the fall, the White Oak’s leaves turn a beautiful burgundy red, and acorns fall from its branches. Acorns make up a good portion of woodland creatures’ diets in the autumn and winter, comprising up to a quarter of a deer’s winter diet.
4. Serviceberry Tree
Also called Juneberry or Saskatoon, the Serviceberry Tree only grows as high as 15 to 25 feet. These small but hardy trees produce white flowers in early spring, attracting bees and butterflies with their nectar. In the fall, Serviceberry trees turn a beautiful red and gold.
5. Mountain Ash Tree
A hardy member of the ash tree species, the Mountain Ash manages to resist the invasive emerald ash borer, a beetle that only feeds on ash trees. This tree makes a popular home for birds, including cedar waxwings and thrushes. It produces beautiful white flowers in the spring, and its feather-shaped leaves turn yellow, orange, red, and purple in the fall. The Mountain Ash tree grows to between 10 and 30 feet tall.
If you’re located in the north and northeast Twin Cities metro and are looking to revamp your landscape with tree planting, hydroseeding, mulch, patios, retaining walls and more, reach out to the top-rated experts at Pro Care Companies.