What are the best evergreens to attract birds and other backyard wildlife?

That’s a question I don’t think is asked often enough by homeowners looking to establish a wildlife garden. Instead, we are more drawn to flowering trees, shrubs and plants that provide a burst of colour during the spring and summer when we spend the most time outdoors enjoying our gardens.

Building an effective wildlife garden however, is not always about our wants and needs. And, although evergreens are important to establish architectural interest and “good bones” in every garden, they are critical to a garden aimed at attracting birds and other wildlife.

Five of the best evergreens for birds and wildlife

Cedar (Thuya) or what is actually called false cedars
Pine trees preferably the native Eastern White Pine
Spruce trees including the common blue spruce as well as ground spruces
Juniper, especially Blue Point juniper
Yews provide cover and nesting habitat as well as berries

In this article, we’ll explore five of the best evergreens to attract birds and other wildlife to our gardens, not just in winter when wildlife is looking for reliable shelter from severe temperatures, but in spring and summer when dense evergreens provide perfect habitat for raising young and escaping predators.

For more on using evergreens in the garden, please check out my post on Using Evergreens to create Structure in your Garden.

Evergreens in our garden

We are lucky to have a large enough property to include several evergreen species in the yard as well as benefit from evergreens planted by our neighbours. If you live in a newer, more typical-sized yard, take a note of what evergreens your neighbours have already planted, and choose a different evergreen to complement what is already growing in the neighbourhood.

We have a massive, fully mature Austrian Pine in the back of our property that is almost devoid of needles accept at the very top of the tree where it gets some sun. The Austrian is joined by a trio of young native white pines planted together down a fenceline.

Along the side of our property, there are 12 extremely fast-growing Green Giant cedars providing a massive wall of privacy and, more importantly, habitat for birds, squirrels and chipmunks.

In our backyard, there are also three struggling spruce trees which look a little barren, and a recently planted Larch that I’m hoping will escape deer predation this winter.

In addition, we have a massive nest spruce that was originally advertised as a “dwarf” species and a prostrate blue spruce in the front garden.

A juniper blue point is beginning to take shape, obviously dropped beneath the branches of one of our spruce trees by a bird feasting on its fruit.

The only other “evergreens” I can think of is a numer of non-native ground covers including pachysandra and epimediums sprinkled throughout the gardens.

Evergreens for our growing zones

This article will focus on the colder climates and growing zones 5-6 most often found in the Northeastern U.S. and throughout parts of Canada.

At the end of this article we’ll add a few more evergreens to consider for warmer climates.

*Northern White cedars are likely the most beneficial trees you can plant for birds and other wildlife.*

Cedars top the list for wildlife friendly yards

Without a doubt cedars – or more specifically false cedars – lead the way when it comes to the ideal evergreen for birds and other wildlife.

The northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) often gets a bad wrap from homeowners saying the evergreens either attract mosquitoes or shed too much to have them in their yard. These are not the people you want to listen to if you are looking to attract wildlife to your yard.

Other common names for the northern white cedar include “arborvitae, northern white cedar and swamp cedar.” They are often sold at better nurseries as small, scruffy and very sparse bare-root specimens for just a few dollars each. Unfortunately these scruffy little trees stacked in a corner of the plant nursery are rarely chosen by homeowners looking for larger, fuller specimens that will give them instant gratification. Don’t get thrown off by their looks at this stage in their life. Northern White cedars can grow to 6-12 metres (20-40 feet).

Unfortunately too many homeowners choose the immediate satisfaction and the results of these purchases often result in homeowners choosing Emerald Green cedars that the nursery or big box stores “guarantee to look good from day 1 and never get very large.”

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say these are of little to no value to most birds and wildlife. But, worse, they do not stand up well to our harsh winters and especially heavy snows. Do yourself a favour and save a lot of money by skipping those pretty little Emerald Green cedars and either go for the ugly little Northern white bare-root cedars that will take a few years to come into their own, or choose the more expensive Black cedars (Thuja occidentalis ‘Nigra’ ) – a cultivar of the Northern White Cedar – that share the positive attributes of our native Northern White Cedars but can be purchased looking beautiful (full but with an elegant and graceful form) from day 1.

Although the Black cedars – reaching up to 6 m in height, and to 3 m in width (15-20 feet) – never reach the size of the Northern Whites, they are still an excellent choice. The Black cedars are more likely to produce seeds than the white cedar making them even more beneficial for birds and other seed eaters.

For an explanation on the differences between “Black and Northern White cedars” be sure to check out the informative Q and A from the Toronto Master Gardeners. For more information on true cedars vs White cedars and other false cedars, check out the informative article from Sciencing.

These Green Giant Cedars are super fast growers putting on 2-3 feet in a single year, but are also elegant and dense enough for birds to use them as shelter and nesting. They are also extremely deer resistant.

I can’t move on without mentioning the benefits of the Green Giant Cedars (Thuya Green Giant) see image above. These are fast-growing trees ideal to create privacy, but also perfect trees to create habitat in a hurry.

Among their finest attributes is the fact they are deer resistant. In fact in the five years we have had ours, I have yet to see a single deer feeding on these cedars.

For my complete post on the value of Green Giant cedars, check out my post here.

Pine trees and birds — *Images show backyard birds in Pine.*

Pines are popular with wildlife

Besides the dense foliage of our native cedars (Thujas), the pine family takes a close second when it comes to favourite trees for wildlife. Certainly a full grown native Eastern White Pine will be greatly appreciated by both song birds and our top predators including owls and hawks – from Coopers to our lovely little Kestrals that are actually members of the falcon family.

In addition, you can count on a host of other wildlife from squirrels and chipmunks to raccoons, fox and, if you are in a more remote area, anything from porcupines to deer, beavers, rabbits and mice feeding on white pine seeds, bark and needles. Larger stands of white pine also provide shelter for moose, bears, grouse and woodcocks.

It does not take much to realize the importance of our native white pines.

For more on the white pine and its value to wildlife in our gardens, take a moment to check out my earlier post on the Native Eastern White Pine.

The popular Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) is considered invasive so refrain from planting these trees.

The Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) as well as a number of smaller decorative pines might be better choices if you choose not to plant our native Eastern White Pine.

The dwarf, ground-hugging mugo pine is an excellent addition to any garden. This tough pine bush is cold hardy down to the coldest regions of Canada and the U.S. The Mugo Pine sports a lovely mounded shape with deep green fragrant needles. Unlike other pines whose branches grow outward and upward, Mugo pine branches – called candles – grow mostly upward. Small brown cones fill this distinctive bush and add interest and a food source for wildlife and birds.

Pines in my garden

In our garden, we have three native Eastern White Pine growing together in a nice grouping in a more wild area overlooking our massive fern garden. Although the trees have not yet grown into mature specimens, each year these fast-growing trees put on several feet of growth and are fast growing into one another to form a dense thicket of pine branches. The grouping is particularly attractive to our Coopers hawk and, I hope one day, a screech owl.

Spruce trees provide good habitat for a host of birds

The ever popular spruce tree – including the Blue Spruce – is a good choice for wildlife gardeners.

We are fortunate that our neighbours planted a number of them near our property line providing excellent nesting habitat for a number of birds.

The biggest problem with spruce trees is that they are often planted in the wrong places in the garden and end up having to be removed just when they come into their prime. Don’t make this mistake.

Consider either planting a dwarf or prostrate form, or plant one in a corner of your property where it has room to spread out both vertically and horizontally. If given a chance to grow to maturity, these trees can provide excellent privacy, even from second-storey windows overlooking your yard.

There are several types of spruce trees including black spruce (Picea mariana). Small mammals and birds, such as red squirrels and chickadees, eat seeds from black spruce cones. Songbirds such as warblers also nest in black spruce trees.

Blue Point Juniper – native tree and a winter favourite

Junipers are important native trees that are a key food resource for birds later in the winter. Not only do native junipers provide a key food source for backyard birds, their dense branches also offer critical habitat and protection from the harsh effects of winter.

In spring, it is not unusual for mockingbirds and other backyard songbirds to use these conifers to build their nests.
Ron Johnson, a professor emeritus in wildlife biology at Clemson University in the United States, lists the juniper as one of the top 10 plants for wildlife. He adds that even one juniper in a backyard can make a difference for backyard birds and small mammals.

Everything from eastern bluebirds and evening grosbeaks to wild turkeys and sharp-tailed grouse use the fruit as an important food source. On extremely cold days, birds have been known to eat more than 200 juniper berries.
One of the downsides to junipers is that they are hosts to cedar-apple rust fungal disease if planted near apple or crabapple trees.
There are several junipers native to the United States and Canada. The following are good ones to consider:
Rocky Mountain juniper: A large tree that can be found from eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana and western North Dakota south to Arizona and New Mexico. Sometimes called western red cedar, it is the most cold tolerant of the junipers.
Eastern red cedar: This is the most widespread conifer in parts of the East and Midwest, and is native to 37 states. Dozens of bird species feed on the tree’s berries, including cedar waxwings.
Other junipers include: Ashe juniper and Common juniper.

Yew is an excellent choice to attract thrushes and waxwings

Yews provide birds and backyard wildlife with an excellent source of food from their berries, as well as nesting habitats. Their dense growth habits also provide cover for backyard birds and wildlife during the winter.

Yew berries are not only visually appealing, but, s mentioned, they also serve as a valuable food source for various birds and wildlife. Many species of birds, such as thrushes, blackbirds, and waxwings, rely on yew berries as a crucial part of their diet.

These berries provide them with essential nutrients and energy, especially during the winter months when other food sources may be scarce. Additionally, yew berries are known to attract small mammals like squirrels and mice, which in turn become a food source for larger predators like foxes and owls.

The high fat content of yew berries makes them particularly attractive to birds and wildlife. This fat is essential for their survival, as it helps them maintain their body temperature and provides them with the energy they need for daily activities. Furthermore, yew berries are rich in antioxidants, which can boost the immune system of birds and wildlife, helping them stay healthy and resilient against diseases.

It is important to note that while yew berries are beneficial for birds and wildlife, they can be toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Therefore, it is crucial to keep an eye on children and ensure they do not consume these berries.

By understanding the role yew berries play in the diet of birds and wildlife, we can appreciate their importance in supporting the ecosystem and take necessary precautions to keep them out of the reach of children.

In warmer climates

In warmer climates, you can add several other evergreens to your garden including: American Holly Tree, Nellie Stevens Holly, Viburnum Pragense, Wax Myrtle, Evergreen Sumac and Yaupon Holly just to name a few. All of these provide birds and backyard wildlife with both a food source and nesting habitat.

Five of the best evergreens to attract birds and other wildlife?