birds feed to baby birds. Birds and mammals eat the inconspicuous black fruits.
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
BLUEBERRY. Family: Heath (Ericaceae). Genus: Vaccinium; HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY (V. corymbosum). Height/Spread: 4–12 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Drooping clusters of white to pink-tinted bell-shaped flowers followed by edible, blue fruit. Green, or often red twigs. Reddish-green spring leaves turn blue-green in summer and fiery red, yellow, orange, and purple in fall. As it ages, this multistemmed shrub assumes an attractive gnarled shape, providing winter interest. “For pure ornamental value, the blueberry bush is hard to beat,” writes the Chicago Botanic Garden.20 “A good substitute for burning bush,” writes Penelope O’Sullivan.21 Cultivation: Full sun, moist to dry, acidic soil. Recycled Christmas tree branches make excellent acidic mulch. Note: Endangered in parts of the Midwest. Zones: 3–8; LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY (V. angustifolium). Height: 6 inches–2 feet. Note: Threatened in parts of the Midwest. Zones: 3–6; CRANBERRY (V. macrocarpon). Height: Less than 1-foot-tall mat. Ornamental Attributes: Flowers create pink hazes over bogs. Edible, red fruit. Leathery evergreen leaves turn a variety of fall colors. Use as groundcover. Cultivation: Sun best for fruit; wet to moist acidic soil. Note: Endangered in Illinois, threatened in Tennessee. Zones: 2–6; MOUNTAIN CRANBERRY, LINGONBERRY (V. vitis-idaea). Ornamental Attributes: Mat-forming groundcover. Note: Endangered in Michigan and Wisconsin. Zones: 3–6; BLACK HUCKLEBERRY, DANGLEBERRY. Genus: Gaylussacia (G. baccata). Height: 2 feet. Spread: 2–4 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Urn-shaped blueberry-like spring flowers, edible black fruit, red fall color. Cultivation: Sun, part shade, moist or dry well-drained soil. Note: Threatened in Iowa. Zones: 4–8. Heath Family Nature Note: Blueberries and cranberries (Vaccinium genus) host 294 species of butterflies and moths, including brown elfin, spring azure (p. 95), summer azure (p. 128), azalea sphinx, Edwards’ hairstreak (p. 210), and striped hairstreak (p. 18). HUCKLEBERRY (Gaylussacia genus) hosts 44 species of butterflies and moths. Including heath family plants in addition to “rosids,” a group that includes trees and shrubs like oaks, willows, beeches, maples, and elms, helps increase Lepidoptera (butterfly/moth) diversity because these plants host different insects such as the slender clearwing moth, that only lays her eggs on plants in the heath family. The plants provide shelter to many animals. Blue jay (p. 79), red-winged blackbird (p. 55), black-capped chickadee (p. 322), scarlet tanager, gray catbird (p. 79), eastern towhee (p. 235), red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers (pp. 212, 55), house wren, and warblers seek the midsummer berries and use the stems to create nests.
House wren (Troglodytes aedon)
For more heath family plants see BEARBERRY, p. 156; DEERBERRY, p. 138; SOURWOOD, p. 186.
More Native Alternatives:
CHOKEBERRY SPP., p. 13; SAND CHERRY, p. 17; SERVICEBERRY SPP., p. 20; VIBURNUM SPP., p. 69; WAFER ASH, p. 45.
See Summer Shrubs for HYDRANGEA SPP., p. 143; NEW JERSEY TEA, p. 134.
See Fall Shrubs for SUMAC SPP., p. 242.
Nonnative:
DOGWOOD. See Winter Shrubs, p. 309.
Native Alternatives:
DOGWOOD SPP., p. 48.
See Winter Shrubs for REDOSIER DOGWOOD, p. 310.
European elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
Nonnative:
ELDERBERRY, EUROPEAN ELDERBERRY, BLACK ELDERBERRY. Family: Elderberry (Adoxaceae). Genus: Sambucus (S. nigra). Origin: Europe. Height: 10–20 feet. Spread: 8–12 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Showy flat white, ill-smelling flowers in late spring to early summer; dark purple, edible berries. Cultivation: Full sun best, moderately moist soil. Zones: 5–7.
Native Alternatives:
American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) Also see p. 267
ELDERBERRY. Family: Elderberry (Adoxaceae). Genus: Sambucus; AMERICAN BLACK ELDERBERRY (Sambucus nigra L. subsp. canadensis). Height/Spread: 8–15 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Showy, flat, white long-blooming flower heads in June and July; showy, glistening clusters of edible dark purple fruits held on magenta pedicels in August to September; yellow fall leaves. The flowers have “a pure sweet scent. . . . We like the contrast of lacy flower heads against tropical green foliage . . . in most gardens of fragrance,” wrote Wilson and Bell.22 Cultivation: Adaptable, low maintenance, easy-to-grow shrub. Full sun best; takes shade. Best in moderately moist, well-drained soils; tolerates dry conditions. Suckers create thickets. To encourage vigorous regrowth, cut to the ground in March. Food Note: Quintessential American plant produces fruits and flowers used for centuries to make wine, jam, jelly, preserves, pies, and juice. Nature Note: Little carpenter and mason bees hollow out stems, creating nesting material and locations. They cause little damage and create future pollinators. Shrub may be used for conservation biological control. Fruits are rich in carbohydrates and protein and provide important food for migrating birds. Provides cover, nesting sites, and habitat for local and migrating birds and other wildlife. Supports bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; pollen is a honeybee favorite. Eastern chipmunk (p. 94), red squirrel, Franklin’s ground squirrel, woodchuck, foxes, and rabbits and more than 120 species of birds seek the mid- to late summer fruits, including red-bellied woodpecker (
