Crafting a Haven for Avian Companions in Germany 🐦
Top 10 Native Trees Favorable for Birds in Your Backyard
Welcome, dear gardener! Transform your yard into a sanctuary where the song of feathered friends echoes throughout by carefully selecting the right trees that cater to their needs for food, shelter, and breeding. This guide will illuminate the top native picks to brighten your green space with a chorus of winged creatures.
1. Rowan Tree (Sorbus aucuparia)
Often referred to as the Mountain Ash, the Rowan Tree is a must-have in any German garden. Its vibrant red berries serve as a lifeline during the lean months for approximately 63 avian species, especially the Song Thrush, Blackbird, and Robin. Plus, its safe haven gives birds a suitable nesting spot.
Find your perfect Rowan Tree at Baumschule Horstmann or here online.
Key Facts:
- Birds: 63 species find shelter and sustenance
- Size: Around 8-15 meters high, 4-6 meters wide
- Location: Sun to partial shade
- Other: Can also attract wild bees and beneficial insects
2. Cherry Plum Tree (Prunus cerasifera)
Among the trees essential for biodiversity and birds in Germany, the Cherry Plum Tree (also known as the Sweet Cherry) is second to none. Its crimson cherries offer sustenance, while the blossoms bring in countless caterpillars, hoverflies, and beetles that birds adore.
You can find this garden staple at Baumschule Horstmann or here online.
Key Facts:
- Birds: Up to 48 species benefit from this tree, including Starlings, Hawfinches, and Mistle Thrushes
- Size: Approximately 15-20 meters high, 7-12 meters wide
- Location: Sun to partial shade
- Other: Attracts various beneficial insects
3. Common Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata)
With dense, protective thorns, the Common Hawthorn acts as a fort for our winged friends against predators like cats. Its edible stone fruits serve as winter sustenance, and it's great for smaller gardens and hedges.
Choose your Common Hawthorn from well-stocked plant centers or Baumschule Horstmann.
here at the Horstmann Nursery or at your local nursery.
Key Facts:
- Birds: Many various bird species can find shelter and food
- Size: Shorter compared to other trees, suitable for small gardens and hedges
- Location: Sun to partial shade
- Other: Highly favored by insects, especially bees
4. Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas)
The early blossoms of the Cornelian Cherry attract insects, promptly followed by birds drawn to its robust fruits. The tree's ascending branches provide nesting and landing sites for birds.
Pick up your Cornelian Cherry here at Horstmann or visit your local nursery.
Key Facts:
- Birds: Important for 15 bird species, such as Goldfinches, Siskins, and Jays
- Dimensions: Approximately 2-6 meters high, 3-5 meters wide
- Location: Sun to shade
- Other: Attracts hedgehogs and dormice
5. Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)
If you want to pitched in against global species extinction while attracting birds, the humble Common Juniper (also known as the common juniper) deserves a space in your garden. Its nutrient-packed berries offer sustenance for many native bird species in Germany.
Get your Common Juniper here at Horstmann or from any well-stocked plant center.
Key Facts:
- Birds: Around 43 bird species appreciate this tree, including Blackbirds, Crows, and Quails
- Dimensions: Approximately 4-5 meters high, 1 meter wide
- Location: Sun to partial shade
- Other: Can attract squirrels and some insects
Tip: Learn how to entice squirrels to your garden with our tips found here.
6. Field Maple (Acer campestre)
bird protection at the window in the linked blog post.
Also known as the Box Elder, the Field Maple is common in Germany and provides roosting and nesting sites, in addition to serving as a shelter for insects dear to birds. It's an excellent habitat for many butterfly caterpillars.
Find your Field Maple at local plant shops or here at Horstmann.
Key Facts:
- Birds: Up to 15 bird species, such as Finches, Tits, and Creepers, exploit its offerings
- Dimensions: Approximately 5-15 meters high, 5-10 meters wide
- Location: Sun to partial shade
- Other: Provides habitat for various caterpillars
Alternative: For garden enthusiasts with limited space, the Field Maple (Acer campestre) can serve as a suitable alternative for smaller gardens.
7. Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
The humble Serviceberry is an old fruit tree, appreciated by birds yet seldom cultivated. Its fruits provide birds with sustenance during autumn scarcity, while its broad crown provides a safe haven.
Purchase your Serviceberry here at Horstmann or look for it locally.
Key Facts:
- Birds: Beneficial to various native birds, including thrushes and blackbirds
- Dimensions: Approximately 3-15 meters high, 8-10 meters wide
- Location: Sun to partial shade
- Other: Supports wild bees
Important: To prevent bird collisions with large windows, consider planting trees close to your house. Learn more about effective bird protection at the window in this blog post.
8. Hawthorn (Crataegus)
With dense foliage, a thorny exterior, and plentiful berries, the Hawthorn serves multiple purposes: offering insects, protection against predators, and vital sustenance for many birds.
Grab your Hawthorn here online at Horstmann or at your local plant center.
here online at the Horstmann Nursery or at your local garden center.
Key Facts:
- Birds: Supporting roughly 20 bird species, including Titmice, Grasshopper Warblers, and Sparrowhawks
- Dimensions: Approximately 2-4 meters high, 2-4 meters wide
- Location: Sun to partial shade
- Other: Extremely appealing to countless wild bees, caterpillars, flies, and beetles
9. Juneberry (Amelanchier)
The Juneberry is another perfect tree for bird lovers, boasting edible fruits cherished by humans and birds alike. Its dense foliage offers shelter, and its berries provide essential sustenance for cold-weather months. Adding to its allure, its flowers welcome a variety of insects.
Find your Juneberry here at Horstmann or locate it at your local nursery.
Key Facts:
- Birds: Attracts about 18 bird species, including Meadow Grasshoppers and Jays
- Dimensions: Approximately 4-15 meters high, 4-7 meters wide
- Location: Sun to partial shade
- Other: Popular among wild bees for timber
10. Wild Pear (Pyrus pyraster)
The native wild pear offers both edible fruits in the fall and white, pollen-rich blossoms that bring in bees and other beneficial insects, making it a must-have for bird-friendly gardens.
Find the wild pear only at well-equipped plant centers. Alternatively, you can opt for the cultivated form (Pyrus communis), available here at Baumschule Horstmann.
Key Facts:
- Birds: Sheltering approximately 24 bird species, including Blackbirds, Starlings, and Goldfinches
- Dimensions: Approximately 5-15 meters high, 5-10 meters wide
- Location: Sun
- Other: Valuable for both humans and butterfly caterpillars
Good to know: The cultivated pear (Pyrus communis) is a non-native species, but it is still valuable for many birds and insects.
Embrace the beauty of creating a refuge for our feathered friends! Start with these exceptional trees, and watch your garden flourish with songbirds.
Juneberry here at the Horstmann Nursery. With a bit of luck, you might find it at your local plant store as well.
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