Shrubs
Elderberry-
The bush produces bluish-black fruit in bunches that are used in wines, juices, jellies, and jams. The berries themselves are quite bitter, so they are rarely eaten by themselves. Elderberries are easy to grow and have a mature height of 10-12 feet, spreading out 8-10 feet. Fruit is produced in drooping clusters in late autumn, they are an important food for many fruit-eating birds, squirrels, and deer. Elderberries can be made into syrup or wine and consumed by humans.
Native to the U.S. and Europe, Zones 3-8
Serviceberry-
Juneberry or shadbush, are large deciduous ornamental bushes or small trees that vary in size and form depending on the species. Gardeners plant them as border shrubs or specimen plants or use them to attract wildlife. These bushes can grow 4-25 feet tall and 4-15 feet wide. Serviceberry bushes offer year-round ornamental appeal, as well as yielding an edible and flavorful berry that works well in jellies and pies.
Native to North America, Zones 2 through 9.
Gray Dogwood-
If you are looking for a low-maintenance shrub in a non-formal landscape, gray dogwood is a good choice. It will also make the birds happy—almost 100 species of birds eat the berries and use it for shelter and nesting. The Gray dogwood is a healthy variety that resists the diseases common to many dogwoods. The bloom of the gray dogwood in May or June is relatively short, about seven to ten days. In August or September, the shrub produces white berries with a bluish tint. Chances are you won’t even notice them because birds voraciously eat them in no time. It is not until after the berries are gone that the gray dogwood displays its most attractive feature: the red fruit stalks called pedicels which remain on the shrub until late fall or early winter. The one- and two-year-old stems of the gray dogwood are reddish-brown. In the third year, their color changes to gray. These bushes grow 10-15 feet tall and wide.
Native to North America, Zones 4-8.
Buttonbush-
If you have a constantly wet area in your landscape, you might be wondering what, if anything, can be planted there. The answer is a buttonbush.
Buttonbush grows as a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree that can reach heights of 5 to 12 feet or more and widths of 4 to 8 feet. This deciduous species boasts glossy, dark green leaves that form whorls. Buttonbush flowers are unusual 1-inch globes of densely- packed, tiny white or pinkish flowers that cover the shrub. The blooms are long-lasting with extremely long pistils that protrude in a delicate “fringe" around the flower head. The fragrant flower heads are a magnet for pollinators of many types, especially bees and butterflies. The shrub is considered of special value by the Pollinator Program of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Honeybees and native bees produce honey from the buttonbush nectar and pollen. After blooming, the flower heads become attractive red, ball-shaped fruits composed of multiple, tiny, two-seeded nutlets which persist through the winter. Birds consume the seeds, and the shrub itself is considered to be moderately deer resistant. These bushes typically grow 6-8 feet tall and wide but can get up to 15 feet tall and wide.
Native to North America, zones 5-11