Native Bushes for the Hedgerow

Here’s the specifics for the native bushes we’ve planted so far on the property. 

In the back we’re looking to do a large planting of about 20x50’ all along the North fence to the East fence. This takes up about half of the North yard, the other half towards the West fence is where the Tallgrass Prairie has been planted. 

We also have a small hedgerow planted at the front of the house on the West side that will eventually provide a screen so we can’t see the billboards all over the neighbours property. We’d like to also make a bit of a wind/snow screen along the driveway on the North side but that’s a long stretch, several hundred feet, so that will take a bit of time to plant out. 

All of the plans … All of the plants … 

1.Buttonbush Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Size:

3-10 feet high by 3-6 feet wide

Location:

Full sun to part shade, medium to wet conditions in sand, loam or clay soils

Appearance: 

It has glossy, dark green foliage that turns golden yellow in the fall. The leaves form in pairs or in threes on this multi-stemmed shrub. The stem is a plain brownish-gray.

The flowers are small, creamy white and very fragrant. They are very unusual in shape - one inch globes covered in a fringe of pistils and are very long lasting. They bloom in July and August with the flower heads turning to brown seed clusters in the fall and provide winter interest. 

Habitat:

Often found in swamps, around ponds and margins of streams, creeks or marshes. It can cope with poor drainage or standing water. Other locations include prairie swales as well as lake margins. It can also be found on dry, limestone bluffs.

Benefits: 

Buttonbush is of special value to native, honey and bumble bees. It provides nectar for pollinators and food for the birds when it goes to seed.

It attracts more than 24 species of birds including hummingbirds to the flowers and robins, kingbirds, and towhees for the seeds. It also attracts numerous species of butterflies such as the Tiger Swallowtail.

It is the caterpillar and adult food source of the Titan (Aellopos titan) and Sphinx moth (Darapsa versicolor). 

2. Gray Dogwood Bush (Cornus racemosa)

Size:

10-15 feet high and wide

Location:

Full sun to full shade, dry to wet conditions in loam or clay soils

Appearance: 

Leaves are 2 to 4 inches long, pointed and grayish-green. The leaves turn a lovely purplish-red in fall. The younger stems have a red color and older stems turn grayish-brown.

It flowers with flat, white clusters in late spring; the fragrance isn’t the nicest though so don’t bury your nose in it. These flowers ripen into bluefish-white berries July through October and can persist into winter if the birds don’t eat them all.

The fruit stalks are a lovely bright red and give the bush visual interest through winter. 

Habitat:

Often occurs in disturbed woods, moist ground along streams, wet meadows, and prairie margins. Tolerant of shade. 

Benefits: 

Flowers attract pollinators as well as predatory or parasitoid insects that will prey upon pest insects in the garden or habitat. It is the larval host of the Spring Azure butterfly.

Over 98 species of birds, including flicker, tanager, woodpeckers, and catbird are attracted to this plant for its fruit and use as a shelter and a nesting site. Berries are eaten by Cardinals, Downy Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebirds. 

3. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

Size:

15 to 20 feet high and 10 to 15 feet wide

Location:

Full sun to part shade, dry to moist well-drained soil. Tolerates occasional flooding. Moderate degree of salt tolerance. Very adaptable. 

Appearance:

Leaves form opposite each other and are oval shaped, glossy dark green with slightly serrated edges. They turn a lovely reddish-purple in the fall. The bark is dark, brownish-black.

Flowers are small and creamy white in 4 1/4-inch, flat-topped clusters.  Flowers have no fragrance. It only flowers on year old (plus) wood, so prune after flowering to maintain its size and shape.

The berry-like fruit (drupes) starts out yellow and red and matures to blue or black in the fall.

Habitat:

Can be found in wet or poorly drained sites such as bogs as well as prairie habitats and wood edges.

Benefits:

Deer resistant if you have a problem with browsing on your shrubs.

Birds are attracted to the fruit that ripens in the fall and often persists into December.

We can also eat the fruit.

The flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. It is the caterpillar and larva host to the spring azure butterfly.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the final three native bushes we’ve planted.