Cranberry Viburnum
We have many wonderful native species of Viburnum in North America, and there are interesting species in Asia as well. Many are great garden plants, certainly for a wildlife garden. Their fruits, although not always the first choice of fruit-eating birds, provide a backup food source, and their shrubby habit is a great place for cover and nesting. A brown thrasher pair took advantage of this cranberry viburnum ( Viburnum trilobum ) earlier this summer. The berries are turning a vibrant cranberry red now, and are a striking backdrop to the satellite garden. Addendum: hmmm, these are so striking that I did another post, forgetting I already had admired them!
