James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

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Common Witchhazel, Hamamelis virginiana: Large shrub or small tree reaching up to 15' tall. Golden leaves and fragrant yellow flowers in the fall that persist even after leaf drop. Birds eat the fruits and the seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. Extract of leaves, twigs and bark is used as an astringent. Prefers moist, part-shade to shady sites, but will tolerate a variety of conditions except extremely dry.

Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Highbush Cranberry, Viburnum trilobum: Native shrub growing up to 12’ tall. Produces clusters of white flowers with bright scarlet berries in the fall. Performs well in a broad range of soil types and will tolerate a high degree of shade once established. Excellent winter food for ruffed grouse.

Jaime Beranek, Marquette County Conservation District

Sand Cherry, Prunus pumila: Native shrub growing up to 6’ tall. A familiar, low growing shrub of coastal dunes, sand cherry prefers well-drained soil and tolerates hot, dry conditions. The fruit is a favorite wildlife food and is also suitable for making jellies and jams.

Richard Webb, Self-employed horticulurist, Bugwood.org

Serviceberry, Amelanchier canadensis: Native tree/shrub growing 10-25’ tall. Flowers are white with bright green foliage. Berries are relished by grouse and various songbirds. Does well in dry to moist soils with full sun, though it will tolerate some shade.

Franklin Bonner, USFS (ret.), Bugwood.org

Staghorn Sumac, Rhus typhina: Native shrub growing up to 20’ tall. Develops clusters of scarlet berries that are an excellent winter food for wildlife. Has a wide spreading root system which makes it a good plant for soil stabilization. Prefers dry to moist, infertile soils with full sun.

Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Black Chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa: Native shrub growing 3-6’ tall. White flowers with dark    purplish to blackish berries. Leaves turn a bright red in autumn. Songbirds and upland gamebirds  enjoy the bitter fruit in winter months. An ideal plant to grow along roadsides and parking lots due to its tolerance to drought, soil compaction, and salt.

Bill Cook, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

Red Osier Dogwood, Cornus stolonifera: Native shrub growing up to 10'tall. Showy, red to purplish branches with whitish berries. Leaves are oblong with pointed tips and turn dark red in the fall. Prefers moist soils with full sun. Excellent food for wildlife, the dogwood is a must for winter interest in the garden.

James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org

Common Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis: Shrub reaching 5-12' in height with a spreading form, which makes it great for naturalized areas away from the house. Prefers partly sunny locations of wet meadows and forests. Pheasants and other wildlife like the late fall fruit. Berries can be used in cooked jellies and pies.

Richard Webb, Self-employed horticulurist, Bugwood.org

Ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius: Native shrub growing 6-9' tall. Easily grown in dry to medium well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Known for its exfoliating bark which peels in strips to reveal several layers of reddish to light brown inner bark. Typically found along stream banks and moist thickets, ninebark makes a great shrub border.

Iowa State University Extension

Pussy Willow, Salix discolor: Wetland shrub or small tree growing up to 20' tall. Ideal for areas of landscape suffering from poor drainage. Grows best in full sun and produces furry catkins/cylindrical flower clusters in early spring which can be used for decoration when pruned back. Interesting foliage color into the fall.

Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Beaked Hazelnut, Coylus cornuta: Medium-sized shrub reaching up to 12' high. Flowers in April to May and produces flavorful nuts in early fall. Prefers open sites in hardwood forests or along forest edges. Creates a nice screen when fully grown. Excellent for wildlife.

Richard Webb, Self-employed horticulurist, Bugwood.org

American Hazelnut, Corylus americana: A dense, thicket-forming shrub reaching up to 12' in height. Yellowish-brown catkins are showy in late winter and early spring. Fall color varies from bright yellow to deep wine-red. Edible nuts eaten by birds and squirrels. Prefers moist to dry, well-drained soils in shade to partial shade.

Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

American Plum, Prunus americana: Small, hardwood tree growing 20-25' tall. Blooms April-May producing yellow to reddish fruit in the fall, which make great preserves and jellies. Easily grown in dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Remove suckers to prevent unwanted spread.

Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Winterberry Holly, Ilex verticillata: Native shrub growing 6-10' tall. One of the few hollies to lose its leaves in winter. Late fall through winter, bright red berries persist on the branches and attract winter birds. Does well in full sun and acidic, moist to wet soils, but adaptable to occasionally dry soils.