Native Plants Valuable to Wildlife
TREES – Evergreen 50’ +
American Holly, Ilex opaca - Fruits eaten by Bluebird, robin, Mockingbird, larvae plant for Henry’s Elfin Butterfly
Cabbage Palmetto, Sabal palmetto, SC State Tree - Fruits eaten by Robins and raccoons
Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis - Fruits eaten by many birds, nesting cover
Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana - Fruits eaten by Cedar Waxwing, Purple Finch, Bluebird, nesting for hummingbird, warblers, doves, larvae plant for Great Purple Hairstreak butterflies
Gordonia, Gordonia lasianthus - Songbirds
Live Oak, Quercus virginiana - Warblers’ spring migration, acorns eaten by squirrels, turkeys, Nuthatch
Longleaf Pine, Pinus - Nesting for Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
Pine, Pinus species - All used extensively; seeds eaten by birds, needles for nesting
Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora - Good nesting, seeds eaten by Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Red Cockaded Woodpecker
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TREES – Deciduous 50’ +
American Beech, Fagus grandifolia - Nuts eaten by Blue Jay, Chickadee, titmouse, nesting for Pileated Woodpecker
Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum - Seeds eaten by ducks and Sandhill Cranes
River Birch, Betula nigra - Seeds eaten by Chickadee, Finch, Tanager, Grouse, Nuthatch, used for nesting
Blackgum Tree, Nyssa sylvatica - Bee tree, seeds eaten by wood duck, Bluebirds, Purple/Yellow finch, opossum, squirrel
Cucumber Tree, Magnolia acuminata - Seeds eaten by Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Red-Eyed Vireo, Red Cockaded Woodpecker plant for Tiger and Spicebush Swallowtail Butterflies
Hickory, Carya spp. - Nuts eaten by squirrels, turkey, Nuthatch, and wood duck
Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua - Seeds eaten by Cardinal, Chickadee, Finch, Mourning Dove, used for nesting
Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana - Seeds eaten by Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Red Eyed Vireo, Red Cockaded Woodpecker, host for Swallowtail Butterflies
Oaks, Quercus Spp. - Acorns winter staple for Titmouse, turkey, Woodpecker, squirrel, deer, Carolina Wren (SC State Bird), larvae plant, nesting, cover
Red Maple, Southern Sugar, Acer spp. - Sap used by Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, nesting/food for Warblers, Chickadee, Purple Finch, Grosbeak, Bobwhite
Basswood/Linden, Tilia americana - Nectar plant, larval plant for Red-Spotted Purple and Mourning Cloak, seeds eaten by squirrels.
Tulip Popular, Liriodendron tulipifera - Flowers visited by hummingbirds and butterflies, orchard orioles. Seeds eaten by Cardinals.
White Ash, Fraxinus americana - Great nesting for songbirds, butterfly larvae for Tiger Swallowtail, seeds eaten by Purple Finch and Grosbeak
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SMALL TREES – Evergreen 15’ to 40’
Cherry Laurel, Prunus caroliniana - Fruits eaten by Titmouse, Grouse, other songbirds and small mammals, nesting
Devilwood Osmanthus, Osmanthus americana - Fruits eaten by birds and small mammals
Redbay, Persea borbonia - Larvae plant for Palamedes & Spicebush Swallowtail, fruits, eaten by songbirds
Wax Myrtle, Myrica cerifera - Fruits eaten by Swallow, Bluebird, Warbler, 13 other species of birds
Wild Cherry, Prunus serotina - Fruits eaten by many species of birds
Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria - Larval plant for Henry’s Elfin Butterfly, seeds eaten by Cedar Waxwing, Mockingbird and other songbirds.
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SMALL TREES – Deciduous 15’ to 40’
Alder, Alnus serrulata - Fruits eaten by many species of birds
Hawthorn, Crataegus marhallii - Fruits eaten by birds, mammals
Fringe Tree, Chionanthus virginicus - Fruits eaten by Bluebird, Thrasher, Finch, Vireo & 75 other species of birds
Fraser Magnolia, Magnolia fraseri - Fruits eaten by birds, butterflies, mammals
Dogwood, Cornus florida - Seeds eaten by Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Towhee, and Vireo
American Plum, Prunus americana - Fruits eaten by Cedar Waxwing, Cardinal, Sapsuckers, nectar by hummingbirds and Swallowtails, Grey Hairstreak Butterflies
Hophornbeam/ironwood, Ostrya virginiana - Seeds eaten by Finch, Woodpecker, Mockingbird, used for nesting
Musclewood, Carpinus caroliniana - Larval plant for Tiger Swallowtail, fruits by small mammals and wood duck
Paw Paw, Asimina triloba - Larval plant for Zebra Swallowtail, fruits by small mammals
Persimmon, Diospyros virginiana - Fruits eaten by many mammals, bees, butterflies
Redbud, Cercis Canadensis - Flowers by honey bees, sees by birds, deer browse
Red Buckeye, Aesculus pavia - Flowers used by hummingbirds, bees
Red Mulberry, Morus rubra - Fruits eaten by many species of birds
Sassafras, Sassafras albidium - Nectar for butterflies
Service Berry, Amelanchier arborea - Nectar for butterflies fruits eaten by Scarlet Tanager, Bluebird, other birds, and mammals
Amelanchier canadensis - Nectar for butterflies fruits eaten by Scarlet Tanager, Bluebird, other birds, and mammals
Sourwood, Oxydendron arboreum - Seed eaten by songbird, turkey, grouse, small mammals, flowers by bees (honey), butterflies, deer browse
Sumac, Rhus spp. - Fruits eaten by Mockingbird Robin, Thrasher, Red-Eyed Vireo, Cardinal; bark eaten by rabbits in winter
Titi/Swamp Cyrilla, Cyrilla racemiflora - Nectar plant, cover
Turkey Oak, Quercus laevis - Acorns eaten by Red Cockaded Woodpecker
Walters Viburnum, Viburnum obovatum - Nectar, butterflies, fruits, mammals, birds
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LARGE SHRUBS – Evergreen 15’
Florida Leucothoe, Agarista populifolia - Cover, butterflies and birds
Florida Anise, Illicium floridanum
Inkberry Holly, Ilex glabra - Fruits eaten by Bluebird, Thrasher, Mockingbirds and other birds.
Wild Rhododendron, Rhododendron maximum - Flowers used by hummingbirds and butterflies
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LARGE SHRUBS – Deciduous 15’
Arrowwood Viburnum, Viburnum dentatum - Fruits eaten by fox, chipmunk, Bluebird, Cedar Waxwing, Mockingbird, deer browse
Bottlebrush Buckeye, Aesculus parviflora - Flower visited by hummingbirds, butterflies
Florida Azalea, Rhododendron austrinum - Flower visited by Swallowtails, Gulf Fritillaries, Monarchs, hummingbirds, bees, and song birds
Piedmont Azaleas, R. canescens
Oconee Azalea, R. flammeum
Pinxterbloom Azalea, R. periclymenoides
Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia - Fruits eaten by song and game birds, mammals
Silky Camellia, Stewartia malachodendron - Nesting for birds, pollinators
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MEDIUM – SMALL SHRUBS – Evergreen
Coastal Leucothoe, Leucothoe axillaris - Deer Browse
Dwarf Palmetto, Sabal minor - Fruits eaten by Warbler, Woodpecker
Needle Palm, Rhapidophyllum hystix - Cover, deer browse
Spanish Bayonet, Yucca aloifolia - Moths, larva plant for giant Skipper Butterflies
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MEDIUM – SMALL SHRUBS – Deciduous
American Beautyberry, Callicarpia americana - Fruits eaten by Mockingbirds, Finch, Bobwhite, Robin, Thrasher, browse by deer and raccoon
Carolina Allspice, Calycanthus floridus - Deer Browse, butterflies
Sweet Pepperbush, Clethra alnifolia - Flowers visited by bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, fruits eaten by shorebirds, game birds, waterfowl
Fothergilla, Fothergilla major - Game birds, small mammals
Golden St. Johns Wort, Hypericum frondosum - Seeds eaten by game birds, songbirds
Virginia Sweetspire, Itea virginica - Butterflies, seeds eaten by birds, cover
Mapleleaf Viburnum, Viburnum acerfolium - Fruits eaten by Wild Turkey, Bluebird, Cardinal, thrasher, squirrel, deer
Find groups in Magnolia, USA that host online or in person events and meet people in your local community who share your interests. Search all North American native Magnolia Family species here. Or select here to go a specific tree's page. Select species Liriodendron tulipifera, Yellow Poplar Magnolia acuminata, Cucumber-tree Magnolia fraseri, Fraser Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora, Southern Magnolia Magnolia macrophylla, Bigleaf Magnolia Magnolia tripetala, Umbrella-tree. Arrival of Native Americans in Arkansas. Native Americans first arrived in what we now call Arkansas, around the year 11,650 BCE. These first people who arrived were called Paleoindians, denoting.
Northern Spicebush, Lindera benzoin - Larval plant for spicebush swallowtail
Wild Hydrangea, Hydrangea aborescens - Wild turkey, deer browse
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VINES
Carolina Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens - SC State Flower - Hummingbirds, game birds, butterflies
Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata - Deer browse, flowers visited by hummingbirds
Smilax/Greenbriar, Smilax spp. - Deer browse, Wild Turkey, many species of birds
Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, bees, and birds
Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Fruits eaten by Chickadee, Mockingbird, Nuthatch, Scarlet Tanager, Robin
Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata - Flowers visited by Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, larval plant for others
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GROUND LAYER PLANTS – Shade
Atamasco Lily, Zephyranthese atamasco
Black Cohosh, Cimicifuga racemosa - Larval plant for Azure Butterflies, deer browse, cover
Blue Wooland Phlox, Phlox divaracata - Flowers visited by Swallowtails, Grey Hairstreak, browse by deer, rabbit
Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, bees, butterflies
Crestid Iris, Iris cristata - Hummingbirds, bees
False Solomons Seal, Smilacina racemosa - Deer browse, fruits eaten by mammals
Fire Pinks, Silene virginica - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, butterflies
Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia - Butterflies, bees, spring deer browse
Galax, Galax urceolata - Winter deer browse
Green and Gold, Chrysogonum virginianum
Haircap Moss, Polytrichum commune - Winter deer browse, nesting material
Heartleaf Ginger, Hexastylis arifolia - Winter deer browse
Indian Pinks, Spigelia marilandica - Flowers favorite for butterflies and hummingbirds
Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaema triphylium - Fruits and leaves eaten by turkey and Wood Thrush, all parts caustic to most animals
Lyreleaf Sage, Salvia lyrata - Flowers favorite for butterflies, and hummingbirds
Partridgeberry, Mitchella repens - Fruits eaten by Grouse, Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, mouse
Solomons Seal, Polygonatum biflora - Roots eaten by mammals, deer browse
Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, seeds eaten by Finches, Buntings
Wild Geranium, Geranimum maculatum - Seeds eaten by Bobwhite. Dove, deer
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GROUND LAYER PLANTS – Sun
Aster, Aster spp. - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, butterflies, bees; seeds eaten by Cardinal, Finches, Thrasher, Sparrow and Turkey
Wild Indigo, Baptisia spp. - Early succession, birds, bees, nitrogen fixer
Beebalm, Monarda didyma - Flowers nectar source for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (SC State Butterfly), Spicebush, Eastern Black Swallowtail, Pipevine, Swallowtails, deer browse
Bluestar, Amsonia spp. - Flowers visited by bees, butterflies
Black Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida - Seeds eaten by birds, nectar source for bees & butterflies
Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa - Flowers nectar source for Tiger, Spicebush, Eastern Black, Pipevine, Swallowtail Butterflies, Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly. Larval plant for Monarchs.
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis - Nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies
Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca - Larval plant for Monarchs
Common Yarrow, Achillea millefolium - Nectar source for butterflies & bees
Coreopsis, Coreopsis spp. - Nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies, seeds eaten by songbirds, bees, butterflies
Carolina Phlox, Phlox carolilna - Nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies
Downy Phlox, Phlox pilosa - Nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies
Goldenrod, Solidago spp. - Flowers visited by butterflies, bees; seeds eaten by Goldfinch and other birds. Goldenrod is the official South Carolina State Wildflower.
Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium fistulosum - Great pollinator attractor, visited by Spicebush Swallowtail, Gulf Fritillary, Monarch, Painted Lady Butterflies.
Prairie Blazing Star, Liatris spp. - Flowers visited by butterflies, bees
Beardtongue, Penstemon spp. - Flowers visited by bees, butterflies
Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum tenufolium - Seeds eaten by numerous wildlife; flowers visited by butterflies, bees; deer browse
Seashore Mallow, Kosteletzkya virginica - Nectar Plant
Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata - Larval plant for Monarchs
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FERNS
Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrosticoides - Grouse, cover for frogs
Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamomea - Nesting
Marginal Shield Fern, Dryopteris marginalis - Shelter for toads, lizards
New York Fern, Thelypteris noveboracensis - Shelter for toads
Netted Chain Fern, Woodwardia areolata - Shelter for toads, salamanders, newts
Northern Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum pedatum - Shelter for toads, salamanders, newts
Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis - Shelter for toads, salamanders
Sensitive Fern, Onoclea sensibilis - Shelter for toads, salamanders
Southern Lady Fern, Athyrium filix-femina - Shelter for toads, salamanders
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GRASSES
Bushy Bluestem, Andropogon glomeratus - Seeds eaten by birds insects and mammals
Broomsedge, Andropogon virginicus - Seeds eaten by Field Sparrow, Junco; deer browse, rabbit; cover for Bobwhites
Inland Sea Oats, Chasmanthum latifolia - Seeds eaten by Grouse, Titmouse, Wren, Robin
Indian Grass, Sorgastrum nutans - SC State Grass -Flowers visited by Bees, seeds eaten by birds; foliage for grazing
Salt Cordgrass, Spartina alternifora - Roots eaten by geese, seeds eaten by ducks Virginia Rail, Seaside Sparrow; deer browse
Splitbeard Bluestem, Andropogon ternaries - Seeds eaten by songbirds; deer browse, Wild Turkey
Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum - Seeds eaten by songbirds, deer browse
Bulrush, Scirpus cyperinus - Seeds eaten by ducks, marsh birds, muskrats, nesting cover
The Magnificent Magnolias
Part I: Family Tree
The Magnoliafamily is thought by many botanists to be the most primitive of the floweringplant families. It is also considered a very ancient group, with fossilrecords of many now extinct species dating to the Cretaceous Period, about60 million years ago. Some of its equally ancient neighbors found in fossilrecords from the same period include sweetgum, sycamore, birch, and oak.Magnolia species of that period have been found in fossil recordsas far north as Alaska and Greenland. The family and genus were named forPierre Magnol, renowned 17th century French botanist. Today this familyincludes some of the most interesting trees of the modern era. Members ofthe Magnolia family are deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs with simple,alternate leaves and large flowers borne singly at or near the tips of thebranches. The fruits are large, many seeded, leathery cone-shaped aggregates.Seeds are large and fleshy, usually red to pink in color and are suspendedfrom the open fruits by thin elastic threads which may aid in dispersalby attracting birds and small mammals. Several magnificent magnolia familymembers are planted on our campus. Do you know who they are?
There are 12 genera worldwide and 180190 species in the magnificent magnoliafamily. They are found in Southeast Asia, the eastern United States to CentralAmerica, and from the West Indies to Brazil. Two genera are native to theUnited States, Magnolia, and Liriodendron. The genus Magnoliahas very large, showy, insect-pollinated flowers that can reach up to onefoot in diameter. It includes 7075 species, six of which are native to theUnited States. Only one of our four campus magnolia species is native, Magnoliaacuminata or cucumber tree, which is located on the lawn of the campuswarehouse. All of our magnificent magnolias were planted on campus as ornamentals.Our other three Magnolia species on campus are hybrids or nativesof Southeast Asia. Many ornamental forms have been developed and Magnoliaspecies are widely planted throughout the world as landscape specimens.The Chinese were first to cultivate magnolia, but not for it's horticulturalcharacteristics. They were grown for a more practical purpose: the budswere used as flavoring for rice and medicines. Magnolia is considered anemblem of purity among Asian cultures.
The genus Liriodendron has only two species worldwide, one in Chinaand one in the eastern United States. Fossil records indicate that thisgenus was also previously widely distributed throughout North America andthe Old World in several forms. Liriodendron flowers are smallerand less showy than those of Magnolia but are also insect pollinated.We will take a look at these magnificent magnolias in more detail in thenext installment!
by Cathy Heidenreich
Next(Magnolias: Part II)
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