Mulberry trees and bushes provide an ongoing source of fruit that birds love. There's even a weeping mulberry that is very unusual

I know birds love mulberry trees, but aren't they quite large. I need something "dwarf." Is the weeping mulberry "dwarf," about as large as a dwarf fruit tree?
Thanks! Michele

Birds love my fig trees, and they can be kept as small as you like with pruning.

For small size plant shrubs instead of trees. For native birds plant native shrubs.

Michele:

Many birds love blueberries, to the point that birds are one of the principal concerns of blueberry growers. Trouble is, if you start to get some blueberries you may decide you want them yourself and the birds should eat something else.

A nice rabbiteye or southern highbush blueberry can be quite an attractive landscape specimen. You should plant at least two varieties to be assured of good cross-pollination. And blueberries usually require some soil preparation and acidification with peat moss, sulphur, and/or iron sulphate.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

I agree blueberries are a great idea. Just planted two blueberry bushes three weeks ago in good garden soil and woods' dirt with a little iron sulphate. Great minds think alike. I'll plant more, if the birds won't share with me.
Have wild blackberries growing at the edge of property, which spread over into my new neighbors' property. Hope he leaves them for the birds. They are in an out of the way spot.

I'm looking for an elderberry bush for the birds, can't find it in the nurseries.

I have a little orchard I've planted, I'm thinking of adding two dwarf cherry trees.

Will probably find a spot for some fig trees where I wouldn't have to prune them.
Thanks! Michele

Giraldi dwarf is a Mulberry that only gets to be 6 feet tall, according to the catalogs. "Pendula' is the weeping variety, you stake it to the height you want, and it weeps down from there. I don't have experience with these, but think about ordering one of them every winter!

The birds here (especially Mockingbirds) really enjoy my elderberries, eating them over a several week period. These are not the most attractive plants, a bit unruly for a formal garden if that concerns you. Two varieties are needed, and they get to be maybe 8 feet across, although that could easily be reduced by pruning the suckers. I have the varieties 'Adams' and 'Johns', which fruited their second year, and have reached what I hope is their full size in three years.

My goumi bush was almost completely stripped of fruit overnight ths year, I suspect Robins were the culprit. These bushes get about 6' tall.

Alex

Thanks for the info., especially on the Giraldi dwarf Mulberry. That's perfect. I keep reading in my garden books how much birds like Mulberry! It's one of the top "bird" plants.

Thanks everyone. Big help, I mean that!
Michele

Check out mulberry bushes and dwarf weeping mulberry at ediblelandscaping.com.

Will do! Just recorded the link in my garden journal. Thank you! Michele

Hi!

I just happened upon this thread while browsing (i.e. avoiding everything I really *should* be doing today!)...

St. Lawrence Nurseries in upstate NY carries several varieties of elderberry at very reasonably prices. I've ordered from them before and would do so again. I'm also thinking about trying to grow some from seed; Horizon Herbs sells seed for black, blue, and red elderberry.

Good Luck!

Nanking Cherries are easily controlled and very attractive to birds when they're fruiting.

We find too that flickers and deer like Virginia Creeper berries. We love the foliage!

Good luck,

M

laughing...well, local grackles love my sweet cherries and plums...all the birds eat the mulberries and then drop the seeds in the flower beds. You have approx. two months to weed the mulberries. After that the roots are so tough and deep you have to blow them up. Avoid mulberries for your own happiness.