Plant It and They Will Come! How Native Trees and Shrubs Attract Butterflies and Birds
April 21, 2023 | Source: YourLeaf.org | by Justin Lewis
Do you love butterflies and birds and want to welcome more of them to your yard? Planting native trees and shrubs in your yard is guaranteed to attract our fluttery and feathery friends!
Did you know that many butterfly (and moth) species use native trees and shrubs as host plants (plants that insect larvae use as a food source) for their caterpillar stage of life? Did you also know that birds rely on those caterpillars as a critical spring and summer food source, especially to feed their young? And did you also know that trees, shrubs, butterflies and birds, when native to an ecosystem, can not only survive together but also thrive?
Read on to find out how butterflies, birds, trees and shrubs all go together to increase the biodiversity of your backyard!
First, some amazing numbers. If you were to list the host plants that support the most amount of butterflies and moths, native tree species dominate the top spots. Based on our geographic area, National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder tool lists the Oak family as supporting 521 different species of butterflies and moths! Next on the list is the Cherry family, which supports 455 species, then Willows with 431 species, Birches with 410 species, and Poplars with 360 species!