Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - May 05, 2010

From: Oneonta, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Fruit bearing trees and shrubs for wildlife in NY
Answered by: Anne Bossart

QUESTION:

What are the best fruit bearing trees and berry bushes to grow in Oneonta New York. We are working on a project for the Oneonta Job Corps that is a green initiative. When we buy the fruit bearing trees and berry bushes to plant on site. What do you think we would get the best results with. We want some variety. This is a teaching initiative as well. Let me know.

ANSWER:

First, I am assuming you are talking about native trees and shrubs that will bear fruit primarily for wildlife, not human consumption (even though some are quite palatable to both ... bears love apples and birds love blueberries!)

If you are, in fact, planning something like a community food garden you are better off contacting your local agricultural extension service for assistance as that is more in their area of expertise.

If you are planning this project for natural habitat and wildlife benefit I recommend you check out the National Wildlife Federation website for information and highly recommend "The Wildlife Gardener's Guide" published by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. You will fiind detailed instructions and plant lists whether you are planning a stop-over garden for migrating bird in the Atlantic Flyway or are planning to sustain your year round residents.

You can find other books by searching our Bibliography and selecting the topic "Wildlife".

Some favorites for all birds that are native to your area are:

Cornus alternifolia (alternateleaf dogwood)

Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)

Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)

Ilex glabra (inkberry)

Ilex verticillata (common winterberry)

Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (common elderberry)

Sassafras albidum (sassafras)

Viburnum acerifolium (mapleleaf viburnum)

Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American cranberrybush) (Image)

Viburnum rufidulum (rusty blackhaw)


Cornus alternifolia

Cornus florida

Cornus racemosa

Ilex glabra

Ilex verticillata

Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis

Sassafras albidum

Viburnum acerifolium

Viburnum rufidulum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Shrubs Questions

Low-maintenance native plants for Arizona
March 12, 2009 - Will you please suggest some Native plants that can be left without care for the summer and survive - other than cactus?
view the full question and answer

Arctostaphylos Hanging Basket for Texas
April 24, 2015 - I would like to plant an Arctostaphylos uva-ursi in a hanging basket with a coco liner. Will this work, or will the roots grow too long? it's the 'Massachusetts' cultivar.
view the full question and answer

Native Backyard for Lakewood OH
December 24, 2013 - I would like to do away with the lawn in my backyard in favor of native plants that would require minimal maintenance, including flowering plants that would encourage pollinators.
view the full question and answer

Plants for a moist, wooded area in North Carolina
December 06, 2014 - I am looking to plant some native flowers in a wooded area in Surry County NC. The chosen location is fully shaded beside a creek. The water table typically sets about 2 feet below the surface of th...
view the full question and answer

Time for pruning wax myrtle in Texas
January 31, 2015 - We live in Houston. Can we prune back our southern wax myrtle now?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.