Most species of wildlife rely upon plants during some part of the year, either eating the fruit, seeds, or nectar provided or using the plant as a source of shelter or nesting cover. Establishing plantings for wildlife can attract more species to your property.
We share the following plant lists that have excellent wildlife value for your landscape, giving information on trees, shrubs, vines, native grasses, wildflowers, and butterfly nectar sources. All the species that provide wildlife benefits could not be listed, but these lists should provide a good starting point.
- Large Evergreen Trees (30-60 feet)
Name Region Light Needs Food Produced Fruiting Season Value to Wildlife Live Oak Mixed-grass Prairie Sun/Partial Shade Nut Fall-Winter Birds and mammals eat acorns. Good source of cover. Loblolly Pine Cypress Floodplains
Ouachita Highlands
Sun Seed Fall Chickadees, jays, warblers, woodpeckers, and nuthatches eat seeds in fall and winter. Squirrels eat seeds and catkins. Live trees provide excellent nesting cover, while old pines provide nesting cavities. Butterfly host plant. Ponderosa Pine Shortgrass Prairie Sun Seed Fall Shortleaf Pine Ozark and Ouachita Mountains Sun Seed Fall Slash Pine Cypress Floodplains Sun Seed Fall - Large Deciduous Trees (30-60 feet)
Name Region Light Needs Food Produced Fruiting Season Value to Wildlife White Ash Central-East Sun Seed Fall-Winter Some mammals and birds eat seeds, which are produced by female trees. Butterfly host plant for eastern tiger swallowtail and mourning cloak. Green Ash Statewide, except Panhandle Sun Seed Fall-Winter American Basswood East Sun/Partial Shade Seed Fall Important bee nectar source. Squirrels and chipmunks eat seeds. Hollow trees make excellent cavities. River Birch Southeast All Nut Fall Many birds and small mammals eat nuts. Chittamwood Statewide, except Panhandle Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Fall food source for birds and summer nectar source for insects American Elm Statewide, except Panhandle All Seed Spring Finches attracted to trees. Orioles nest in drooping boughs. Fruits eaten by many birds. Deer browse twigs. Butterfly host plant for mourning cloak and painted lady. Slippery Elm Statewide, except Panhandle Sun/Partial Shade Seed Spring-Summer Black Gum East Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer-Fall Fruit valuable to many songbirds and drops in fall. Good nectar source for bees. Hackberry East-Central Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer-Winter Many birds eat winter berries. Butterfly host plant for mourning cloak, hackberry emperor, and American snout. Black Hickory East-Central Sun Nut Fall Nuts relished by squirrels, chipmunks, and birds. Butterfly host plant. Mockernut Hickory East All Nut Fall Shagbark Hickory East Sun Nut Fall Red Maple East Sun/Partial Shade Seed Spring-Summer Flowers appear before foliage. Many birds and mammals eat buds, seeds, and flowers. Leaves and seed stalks used as nest materials. Attracts insects. Sugar Maple East Partial Shade Seed Summer-Fall Red Mulberry Statewide, except Panhandle Sun/Partial Shade Berry Spring-Summer Songbirds and box turtles eat early summer food from female trees. Butterfly host plant for mourning cloak. Black Oak East-Central Sun/Partial Shade Nut Fall-Winter Oaks are of major importance to wildlife, especially in winter when other foods are scarce. Small acorns of pin, water, and willow oaks are eaten by ducks and quail. Wild turkeys swallow acorns whole regardless of size. Acorns also eaten by many songbirds and mammals. Good cover and nesting sources, especially in prairie areas. Squirrels and birds use leaves and twigs to build their nests. Butterfly host plant. Blackjack Oak Statewide, except Panhandle Sun Nut Fall-Winter Bur Oak Central Sun Nut Fall-Winter Chinkapin Oak Statewide, except Panhandle Sun Nut Fall-Winter Northern Red Oak East Sun Nut Fall-Winter Pin Oak East Sun Nut Fall-Winter Post Oak Statewide, except Panhandle Sun Nut Fall-Winter Shumard Oak Central-East Sun Nut Fall-Winter Southern Red Oak East Sun Nut Fall-Winter Water Oak Southeast Sun/Partial Shade Nut Fall-Winter White Oak East Sun/Partial Shade Nut Fall-Winter Willow Oak Cypress Floodplains Sun/Partial Shade Nut Fall-Winter Pecan Central-Floodplains Sun Nut Fall Squirrels, chipmunks, and birds eat nuts. Butterfly host plant for gray hairstreak. Sugarberry Statewide, except Panhandle Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Birds eat winter berries. Butterfly host plant for mourning cloak and hackberry emperor. Sweetgum Southeast All Seed Fall Limited use by wildlife. Finches and small mammals eat seeds Black Walnut Statewide, except Panhandle Sun/Partial Shade Nut Fall Squirrels eat nuts and bury them for future use. Many songbirds eat meat from opened nuts. Butterfly host plant. - Small Evergreen Trees (10-30 feet)
Name Region Light Needs Food Produced Fruiting Season Value to Wildlife American Holly Ozark and Ouachita Mountains Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Bluebird, mockingbird, catbird, robin, and thrushes eat berries. Good cover and nesting source. Plant male and female trees. Butterfly host plant. Yaupon Holly Cypress Floodplains Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Wax Myrtle Cypress Floodplains Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Many birds eat berries. Butterfly host plant. - Small Deciduous Trees (10-30 feet)
Name Region Light Needs Food Produced Fruiting Season Value to Wildlife Box-elder East-Central Sun/Partial Shade Seed Summer-Fall Fair cover source. Butterfly host plant. Caution: Box-elder bug a nuisance on female trees. Red Buckeye Southeast All Seed, Flower Summer-Fall Red flowers attract hummingbirds. Squirrels eat seeds. Carolina Buckthorn East-Central Shade Berry Summer-Fall Many birds eat fruit. Black Cherry East Sun Berry Summer-Fall Fruit eaten by many birds and mammals. Butterfly host plant for eastern tiger swallowtail, red-spotted purple, and spring azure. Flowering Dogwood East Partial Shade/Shade Berry Fall Many birds and mammals eat fruit. Good nesting source. Butterfly host plant for spring azure. Fringetree Ouachita Mountains All Berry Summer-Fall Many birds and mammals eat fruit. Flowers in late spring. Deciduous Holly East-Central Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Many birds eat late winter fruit off female tree. Good nesting source. Butterfly host plant. Ironwood East Shade Nut Fall Squirrels sometimes eat nuts Pawpaw East Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer-Winter Raccoon and opossum eat berries. Butterfly host plant. Persimmon East-Central Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Many birds and mammals eat fruit off female tree. Eastern Redbud Statewide, except Panhandle Sun/Partial Shade Seed Summer-Fall Flowers before the foliage. Good nectar source for bees. Dove and quail eat seeds. Butterfly host plant. Sassafras East Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer-Fall Birds eat fruit off female tree. Butterfly host plant for eastern tiger and spicebush swallowtails Downy Serviceberry East Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer Songbirds eat berries. Butterfly host plant. - Deciduous Shrubs
Name Region Light Needs Food Produced Fruiting Season Value to Wildlife American Beautyberry East Shade/Partial Shade Berry Summer-Fall Robin, thrasher, catbird, and mockingbird eat berries. Blackberry/Raspberry Statewide Sun Berry Summer Important summer food source. Excellent cover source. Rusty Black Haw East-Central All Berry Fall-Winter Good nesting and cover source. Birds and mammals eat fruit. Plant unrelated shrubs for best production. Butterfly host plant for spring azure. Blueberry East-Central Shade/Partial Shade Berry Summer Good late summer food. Birds and mammals eat berries. Butterfly host plant for spring azure. Wahoo Burning Bush East Partial Shade Berry Fall Good food and cover source. Buttonbush Statewide, except Panhandle Partial Shade Seed, Flower Summer-Fall Cover and nectar source. Attractive white flower clusters. Chokecherry West Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer-Fall Excellent food and cover source for many birds and mammals. Butterfly host plant for eastern tiger swallowtail. Coralberry Statewide Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Fair food source and good cover source for birds. Rough-leaf Dogwood Statewide, except Panhandle All Berry Summer-Fall Many mammals and birds eat berries. Good nesting site. Elderberry Statewide Sun Berry Summer-Fall Many birds eat berries. Good nesting site. American Hazel East Sun/Partial Shade Seed Summer-Fall Wildlife eat seeds. Good cover and nesting source. Huckleberry East-Central Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Several birds eat berries. Honey Mesquite Southwest Sun/Partial Shade Seed Fall-Summer Wildlife eat high-protein seeds. Butterfly host plant for Reakirt's blue. Chickasaw Plum West Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer Birds, box turtles, and other wildlife eat fruit. Good cover source. Butterfly host plant. Pasture Rose Statewide Sun Seed Fall-Winter Thorny shrub used as nesting site for birds. Spicebush East Sun/Partial Shade Berry, Flower Fall-Winter Provides early flowers and scarlet fruit. Butterfly host plant for eastern tiger and spicebush swallowtails. American Strawberry-bush East-Central Sun/Partial Shade Seed Fall-Winter Turkey and songbirds eat seeds. Favorite deer and rabbit browse Aromatic Sumac Statewide All Berry Fall-Winter Quail, pheasant, and songbirds eat winter fruit. Tight-packed berry clusters hold small insects eaten by songbirds. Good cover source go ground-dwelling wildlife. Butterfly host plant. Smooth Sumac Statewide, except Panhandle Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Winged Sumac East-Central Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter - Vines
Name Region Light Needs Food Produced Fruiting Season Value to Wildlife American Bittersweet Statewide Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer-Fall Deciduous. Birds eat winter berries. Virginia Creeper Statewide Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Deciduous. Fruit important as fall and winter food. Muscadine Grape Statewide Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer Deciduous. Game birds, songbirds, and mammals eat berries. Good cover source. Greenbrier Statewide Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Evergreen or deciduous. Fruit important in winter. Good cover and nesting source. Passonvine Statewide Sun/Partial Shade Berry Summer-Fall Deciduous. Birds eat fruit. Butterfly host plant for gulf fritillary Trumpet Vine Statewide Sun/Partial Shade Seed, Flower Fall-Winter Deciduous. Flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds Cross-vine Statewide All Seed Summer Semi-evergreen. Good hummingbird nectar source. Coral Honeysuckle Statewide Sun/Partial Shade Berry Fall-Winter Evergreen or deciduous. Fruit important in winter. Good cover and nesting source. - Native Grasses
Native grasses are commonly referred to as the “bedrock” of the prairie community. Without the presence of native grasses, the prairie wouldn’t exist. Native grasses provide the food base for a host of wildlife, from large bison to tiny butterfly caterpillars and everything in between. Grown in concert with native wildflowers, grasses provide nesting cover and shelter for ground-nesting birds, and their root systems stabilize soil to prevent erosion.
Name Region Maximum Height Value to Wildlife Texas Bluegrass Southeast, Central 20 in Songbirds and rodents eat seeds; rabbits and big game graze leaves. Blades make up to 50% of coot's diet. Big Bluestem Statewide, except Panhandle 6 ft Seeds eaten by prairie-chicken, turkey, dark-eyed junco, and sparrows (chopping, field, and tree). Seeds and leaves eaten by meadow and pocket mice, while the whole plant is eaten by antelope, bison, and white-tailed deer. Little bluestem provides excellent nesting cover for birds. Butterfly host plant. Broomsedge Bluestem East-Central 4 ft Cane Bluestem North-central/Northwest 4 ft Elliott Bluestem East 3 ft Little Bluestem Statewide 4 ft Silver Bluestem Central-West 3 ft Splitbeard Bluestem East 4 ft Knotroot Bristlegrass Statewide 3 ft High-value food for rodents, mourning dove, quail, dark-eyed junco, blackbirds, buntings, cardinal, cowbird, dickcissel, blue grosbeak, horned lark, longspurs, meadowlark, pyrrhuloxia, and sparrows. Plains Bristlegrass West 3 ft Buffalograss Central-West 6 in Plants eaten by snow goose, antelope, and white-tailed deer; seeds eaten by McCown's longspur Giant Cane East 20 ft Butterfly host plant. Common Carpetgrass Southeast 20 in Blades eaten by gadwall. Prairie Cordgrass West 6 ft Seeds eaten by several duck species and marsh birds. Geese and muskrats eat rootstocks. Good cover source. Texas Cupgrass Central 4 ft Butterfly host plant. Meadow Dropseed Southeast-Central-West 4 ft Seeds important to ground-feeding birds (wild turkey, dark-eyed junco, and sparrows) and kangaroo rat. Plants eaten by deer. Sand Dropseed Southeast-Central-West 3 ft Eastern Gamagrass East-Central 9 ft Cover source. Leaves used as nesting material. Blue Grama Southeast-Central-West 3 ft Seeds eaten by turkey and longspurs; seeds and plants eaten by black-tailed prairie dog, kangaroo rat, and prairie pocket mouse. Plants eaten by antelope, mule and white-tailed deer. Hairy Grama Southeast-Central-West 12 in Red Grama Central-West 10 in Sideoats Grama Statewide 12 in Indiangrass Statewide 7 ft Cover source. Leaves used as nesting material. Plains Lovegrass Central-West 3 ft Upland game birds eat seeds; white-tailed deer eat plants. Butterfly host plant. Purple Lovegrass East-Central 3 ft Sand Lovegrass Central-West 5 ft Curly Mesquite Central-West 10 in Eaten by antelope, bison, and deer. Seep Muhly Central-West 3 ft Eastern by turkey, dark-eyed junco, tree and song sparrows, and elk. Needlegrass Panhandle 4 ft Seeds eaten by buntings, longspurs, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, and grasshopper mouse. Plants eaten by elk and mule and white-tailed deer. Beaked Panicum East-Central 4 ft Abundant food source for teal, geese, Wilson's snipe, mourning dove, Northern bobwhite, turkey, red-winged blackbird, painted bunting, Northern cardinal, brown-headed cowbird, bule grosbeak, dark-eyed junco, longspurs, sparrows, and towhees. Foliage and plants eaten by muskrat, cottontail rabbit, antelope, and white-tailed deer. Butterfly host plant. Scribner Panicum East 18 in Switchgrass Statewide 6 ft Vine-mesquite Panicum Southeast-Central-West 3 ft Florida Paspalum East 4 ft Seeds eaten by upland gamebirds, mottled duck, green-winged teal, Canada goose, purple gallinule, sora, mourning dove, Northern bobwhite, turkey, red-winged blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, dark-eyed junco, and towhees. Plants eaten by cottontail rabbit and white-tailed deer. Butterfly host plant. Knotgrass Paspalum East-Central 2 ft Inland Saltgrass West 8 in Seedheads, young plants, and rootstocks eaten by black, redhead, and shoveler ducks; blue-winged and cinnamon teal; and Canada and snow geese. Long-billed dowitchers and sora eat seeds; white-tailed deer browse plants. Tobosagrass West 3 ft Eaten by antelope, bison, and deer. Purpletop Tridens East-Central 5 ft Fair seed source for birds and rodents. Butterfly host plant. Slim Tridens West 1 ft Western Wheatgrass West 3 ft Plants and seeds eaten by black-tailed prairie dog, antelope, white-tailed and mule deer, and elk. Virginia Wildrye East-Central 4 ft Deer and upland gamebirds eat seeds. Texas Wintergrass Central-West 3 ft Seeds eaten by buntings, longspurs, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, and grasshopper mouse. Plants eaten by elk and mule and white-tailed deer. Fall Witchgrass Statewide 2 ft Plants eaten by deer, antelope, and upland gamebirds. Broadleaf Uniola East 4 ft Butterfly host plant Longleaf Uniola East 3 ft - Wildflowers
Wildflowers are an important component of your wildscape, serving multiple functions. Besides serving as nectar sources for insects and hummingbirds, they also provide food sources to many seed-eating birds. Wildflowers are adapted to harsh conditions, making them easy to grow in difficult-to-maintain areas, such as corners and slopes. When wildflowers are planted near vegetable gardens, they attract butterflies and bees that help pollinate your plants. A good selection of wildflowers can beautify your wildscape with a never-ending array of colors that can provide fresh cut flowers for your home.
Wildflowers can be planted throughout the spring and summer, but for best overall results, plant wildflower seeds in early October. Wildflowers generally need at least six hours of sunlight per day to prosper, although many species tolerate light to partial shade. Watering and fertilizing the seeds will hep in gemination and seedling growth. Some of the seeds will germinate 10-20 days after planting if sufficient moisture is available. To reseed your wildflowers, trim the heads once the dense brown foliage offsets the floral color display.
To plant wildflowers on existing grass, except for winter grasses such as rye or fescue, mow the existing vegetation as short as possible in the fall. Remove the clippings from the site and rake the area to loosen the soil surface to about one-half inch deep. Mix the wildflower seeds to provide equal distribution and then hand broadcast them over the area to be planted. Most wildflower seeds are adapted to being carried by the wind and then germinating wherever they land. If you rake over the seeds, they may not germinate as quickly. Instead, simply stomp over the area to establish good contact with the soil.
Wildflowers for Birds
Name Light Needs Maximum Height Flower Colors Blooming Season Value to Birds Annual Flowers Indian Blanket Sun 2 ft Red-Yellow Summer-Fall Oklahoma's state wildflower. Produces small seeds eaten by birds Showy Partridge-pea Sun 3 ft Yellow Summer-Fall Seeds eaten by many game and songbird species Sunflowers Sun 8 ft Yellow Spring-Summer Seeds eaten by many bird species Perennial Flowers Bergamots Sun/Partial Shade 3 ft Lavender, Red Summer Hummingbird nectar source Blazing Star Sun 4 ft Purple Summer-Fall Excellent nectar source. Finches and juncos eat seeds. Cardinal Flower Sun/Partial Shade 4 ft Red Summer-Fall Excellent hummingbird nectar source Columbines Sun/Partial Shade 3 ft Red Spring Excellent hummingbird nectar source Fire Pink Sun 10 in Pink Summer Excellent hummingbird nectar source Butterfly Milkweed Sun/Partial Shade 3 ft Orange Summer-Fall Good hummingbird nectar source Downy Paintbrush Sun 2 ft Yellow Spring-Summer Hummingbird nectar source Penstemon Sun 2 ft White Spring-Summer Excellent oriole and hummingbird nectar source Phlox All 2 ft Lavender, Pink Summer Excellent oriole and hummingbird nectar source Evening Showy Primrose Sun 4 ft Yellow Summer Fair hummingbird nectar source Sunflowers Sun 8 ft Yellow Spring-Summer Seeds eaten by many bird species Nectar Plants for Butterflies
Name Light Needs Maximum Height Flower Colors Blooming Season Annual Flowers Basil Beebalm Sun/Partial Shade 15 in White, Purple Spring-Summer Black-eyed Susan Sun/Partial Shade 3 ft Yellow Spring-Fall Bluets Sun/Partial Shadd 5 in White, Purple, Lavender Winter-Spring Catchfly Sun/Partial Shade 2 ft White, Purple, Red Spring-Fall Golden Crownbeard Sun/Partial Shade 3 ft Yellow All Indian Blanket Sun 2 ft Red, Yellow Spring-Winter Lemon Mint Sun 32 in Lavender, White Spring-Fall Mountain Pink Sun 1 ft White, Purple, Red Summer Texas Paintbrush Sun 16 in White, Green, Red Summer Annual Phlox Sun 18 in White, Purple Spring-Summer Texas Yellow Star Sun/Partial Shade 20 in Yellow Spring-Summer Perennial Flowers Green Antelope Horn Sun/Partial Shade 2 ft Yellow Spring-Fall New England Aster Sun/Partial Shade 4 ft Blue, Purple Summer-Fall Spotted Beebalm Sun/Partial Shade 3 ft Yellow, Purple, Lavender Summer Wild Bergamot Sun 3 ft Lavender, Red Summer Blazing Star Sun 4 ft Purple Summer-Fall Butterfly Milkweed Sun 2 ft Orange Summer-Fall Cardinal Flower Sun/Partial Shade 6 ft Red Summer-Winter Columbine Shade/Partial Shade 2 ft Red Spring Purple Coneflower Sun 3 ft Lavender Summer-Fall Sweet Coneflower Sun/Partial Shade 5 ft Yellow Summer-Winter Lance-leaved Coreopsis Sun 5 ft Yellow Summer Englemann Daisy Sun 3 ft Yellow Spring-Fall Frostweed Sun/Partial Shade 7 ft White Summer-Fall Ox-eye Sunflower Sun/Partial Shade 3 ft Yellow Fall Missouri Ironweed Sun 5 ft Red, Lavender Summer-Fall Prairie Larkspur Sun/Partial Shade 5 ft White, Blue Spring-Summer Mexican Hat Sun 3 ft Yellow Spring-Winter Common Milkweed Sun 7 ft Purple Summer Swamp Milkweed Sun/Partial Shade 5 ft Purple Summer-Fall Downy Paintbrush Sun/Partial Shade 2 ft Yellow, Purple Summer-Fall Purple Prairie Clover Sun 3 ft Lavender Summer Blue Sage Sun 5 ft White, Blue Summer-Fall White Snakeroot Sun/Partial Shade 32 in White Fall Maximilian Sunflower Sun 10 ft Yellow Summer-Fall Verbena Sun 20 in Yellow Summer-Fall Plains Zinnia Sun 9 in Yellow Summer-Fall
Even More Pollinator Plant Lists
Okies for Monarchs has created regional plant lists geared for monarchs and other pollinators as well as a statewide Top 12 list! The conservation group also maintains a list of plant vendors that stock milkweeds and other native plants.
Plantings for Wildlife
When considering your wildscape, include some evergreen shrubs and brush piles for winter cover. Also keep in mind that some fruiting shrubs such as cherries, viburnums, elderberries, and dogwoods will produce much more fruit if you plant two or more unrelated shrubs together for cross pollination.
Several species of trees and shrubs have separate male and female plants. To produce fruits, you will need at least one of each in close proximity. As a general rule, one male plant is sufficient to pollinate six to ten female plants. Some species that have separate sexes include red cedar, hollies, persimmon, sumacs, sassafras, wax myrtle, ash, and mulberry. The best way to learn which is female is to see which plants are fruiting – primarily in fall and winter.
Most important in selecting fruiting trees and shrubs is to choose varieties with relatively small fruits. Although birds can bite pieces out of some soft fruits, such as plums or mulberries, they cannot bite pieces out of hard fruits – they must swallow them whole. Smaller birds such as Eastern bluebirds and cedar waxwings can choke on the larger fruits of nandina and Chinese hollies, so they often leave those berries uneaten. It would be better to plant small-berried producers such as Foster’s holly and yaupon holly.
Native plant species that occur in your region are highly recommended over exotics or cultivars because they are better adapted to the local sun, water, and temperature requirements. They are also adapted to local wildlife needs.
This content originally appeared in the Wildlife Department’s “Landscaping for Wildlife” guide. The full guide can be viewed here.