Don's Jersey Birding: A Viburnum in Every Yard!
Viburnums are known to attract over 30 different species of birds, including Flickers, Hermit Thrush, Grosbeaks, Robins, Mockingbirds and Catbirds. These birds will be more than happy to spend time in your backyard when the Viburnums bear fruit. Plus, the plant’s flowers will attract insects that birds like Warblers and Flycatchers will be delighted to partake of. I believe the best Viburnum, which in my line of work means the most attractive to birds, is the Southern Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum Dentatum). It is a very adaptable shrub that produces berries loved by birds in the fall just in time for migration. I have attracted birds such as Catbirds, Hermit Thrush and Brown Thrashers to my little backyard with this great plant. The next on my list is Maple Leaved Viburnum (Viburnum Acerfolium). This is the little Viburnum that you will see covering much of the forest floor in New Jersey’s woodlands. It’s great for shady areas, but is harder to find at a regular nursery.
Arrowwood Viburnum.
Photo Credit: sandybottom.com
Part 2 of Every New Jersey Backyard is Critical Habitat
If I was running for President, my campaign slogan would be “A Viburnum in every yard!” A slogan that would have much more relevance than say “Tippecanoe and Tyler too” or “Read my lips, no new Taxes.” Okay, so maybe the slogan wouldn’t put me over the top for electoral votes, but it would help all of our good citizens who are attempting to attract new birds and restore their backyard habitats to benefit New Jersey’s wildlife.
Native plants are the foundation of any habitat. They have evolved over eons along with our native wildlife. In simple terms, all wildlife, including birds and butterflies, instinctively recognize the plants which have adapted to the area’s climate. These native plants benefit wildlife at the times when they are needed the most.
As spring approaches and you are deciding what plants to add to your backyard, consider native Viburnums as one of the important cornerstones of your backyard habitat. New Jersey native Viburnums are disease and pest resistant, drought tolerant, tough enough for urban areas, and require very little pruning. Most are great for small backyards, bloom nice flowers in spring and late summer, grow fall fruit that attract birds like a magnet, and are the host plant for our spring Azure butterfly.
White Peacock butterfly on Viburnum.
Photo Credit: flickr.com
I do have some favorite Viburnum species, but before we get started, it is important to recognize that not every Viburnum is created equal. You will find many non-native Viburnums at your local nursery, which for the most part do not benefit wildlife at all. It is up to you to know what you are looking for before venturing out, which means you should learn the botanical names of the plants you want. The Horticulture industry loves renaming plants in hopes that they will sell better. For instance, they take the word “weed” away from plants like Milkweed and Joe-Pye Weed and add the word flower instead, believing that the public is afraid of buying anything that might be a weed. So buyer beware! 
Southern Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum Dentatum).
Photo Credit: missouriplants.com
Viburnum Dentatum:
-Soil: Dry to Moist
-Light: Sun to Part Shade
-Flowers: White
-Size: Grows about 10ft high
-Fruit: Bluish black in Fall 
Maple Leaved Viburnum (Viburnum Acerfolium).
Photo Credit: flickr.com
Viburnum Acerfolium:
-Soil: Moist to Wet
-Light: Shade to Sun
-Size: 5ft
-Flowers: White
-Fruit: Bluish black in fall
American Cranberry Viburnum (Viburnum Trilobum).
Photo Credit: finegardening.com
Third on my list is the American Cranberry or High Bush Cranberry (Viburnum Trilobum). I have had this one in yard for many years, but lost it to a storm last year. I loved it mainly because the Cedar Waxwings just went crazy over it, and it always seemed to bring in Purple Finches.
Viburnum Trilobum
-Soil: Well-drained average soil
-Light: Shade to Full Sun
-Size: 8-12 ft.
-Flowers: White (and smell great too)
-Fruit: Clusters of red berries in late summer into fall
Other great Viburnums worth mentioning are Wild Raisin (Viburnum Cassinoides) and Possumhaw Viburnum (Viburnum Nudum). Both are native to New Jersey.
So there you have it. As those plant catalogs begin to fill your mailboxes, look for some of these great viburnums. They will bring joy to the birds and life to your backyard habitats. If you have a favorite plant in your backyard habitat, let me know - maybe we can do a story about it.
Don Torino is the Education Chairperson for Bergen County Audubon Society.
Categories: Don's Jersey Birding
Tags: viburnum backyard habitat birds butterflies arrowwood viburnum native species
Great info on Viburnums...I have a spot in my yard for one. I've planted Butterfly Bushes, Bee Balm, Holly, Thistle & Milkweed for butterflies , Humming Birds, Gold Finch and wintering birds. A Viburnum is next on my list.
Thanks Don
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glad you liked the article, I'm planting a Blackhaw vib. this year
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