Wildlife Gardening Journal

Hackberry Trees Attract Birds and Butterflies

When asked to recommend a shade tree that benefits wildlife, the common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is the first that comes to my mind. Not only is it a host plant to butterflies, but its hackberries attract a variety of birds. Birds I have very fond memories of a specific hackberry tree. When my spouse and ...

Plant Profile: Frog Fruit

Frog fruit (Phyla nodiflora) is a hardy wildlife-friendly native that fills an awkward spot in my garden that would otherwise be covered in mulch. A groundcover that is native to the southern half of the U.S., frog fruit remains evergreen unless hit by frost, in which case the leaves change to a reddish purple. In ...

Host plants for swallowtails

You might be surprised by some of the plants that serve as host plants for swallowtails. My previous house had a huge, mature lilac in the front yard. Every year in early spring, Eastern tiger swallowtails visited it. Swallowtails are the superstars of butterfly world: Huge, strikingly colored, they always lift my spirits when I ...