plant berries that birds love.

there are two shrubs that are loved by cardinals,robins,bluejays and i am not sure how many other and species.
The two shrubs that are great winter feed for birds are , Holly and PYRACANTHA. I planted two small species
of each of these last year and this year had a abundant crop of berries.It took approximately two days for my
plants to be stripped bare.The pyracantha is an easy shrub to start and i will be doing some pruning in the near future and if any of you would like some cuttings let me know.My pyracantha can be grown as a independant
shrub but mine are attached to a trellis.

I have three mature hollies and they have a lot of berries. I see birds in there often to eat the berries but no cardinals. I also have ilex decidua and those berries dont last a week! I would take you up on the pyracantha offer but I just have no more room. Best of luck this year!

Around here, Rowan is by far the best

Resin

What is Rowan?

Sorbus aucuparia and other related Sorbus species

http://eol.org/pages/241042/overview

Resin

Thank you Resin. I have never encountered that plant in any catalogue or on line. I looked at the word and thought it might be a variety of pyracanthe or holly you were speaking of. It looks like it gets to be a sizable tree at maturity. The berries are pretty and plentiful. Im going to look up its range. Thanks again. People like you make Daves G a great place to learn.

After seeing the range, it makes sense that Ive not encountered it. Its range is a long way from Texas!

Here Sorbus is called Mountain Ash. There is one native to Colorado, and it won't grow in this part of Colorado. Non-natives or hybrids might grow here, but I haven't seen any for sale. And I'm not sure where I would put one either!

Rowan, is mountain ash. they due well in Yukon and alaska also in the southern states,i see no reason why they will not do well in Colorado.this tree is common throughout the states.

Yes, there is confusion at nurseries between Ash (a common Shade tree that aggravates allergies) and Mountain Ash, a smaller tree that isn't as adaptable but a better tree in the long run, I think.
Fraxinus Ash has been over-planted in the U.S., and now is being wiped out by the Emerald Ash Borer.

If i am wrong,i stand corrected.
However, if the rowen and mountain ash are different species,please explain how?
the mountain ash i refer to is a small species,with orange berries ,height approx 10-12 feet.
I would love to hear the character differences.

Sorbus is a Genus. Sorbus, Rowan, and MOUNTAIN Ash are the same GENUS which includes various species. Fraxinus Ash is a different genus which also includes several species.
Back to Sorbus (which should italicized): according to the USDA Plants Database, there are at least 16 species native or naturalized in the U.S. They have various common names including "Mountain Ash".
Description, according to Sunset Western Garden Book: Sorbus aucuparia, called "European
Mountain Ash" in the U.S. (& correctly called Rowan by Resin) is moderate to rapid growth to 20-30 ft & 15-20 ft wide. Leaves of 9-15 leaflets turn yellow to red in fall. Clusters of small white flowers turn into berry-like fruit.
In Georgia, you probably have S. americana "American Mountain Ash" a tree or shrub 10-30 ft tall, 11-17 leaflets turn yellow in fall, with fruit. Says "not the choicest" Sorbus, try "Red Cascade". In Colorado I have native S. scopulina called either Greene or Western Mountain Ash, or Rowen Tree. Like above, shrub or small tree, 3-15 ft.

There is a lot of information out there on Landscaping for Birds. General rules:
Food, Water, Shelter (nesting)
Native birds usually prefer native plants.
Migratory birds usually prefer insects, landscaping for insects is a little more complicated but I have had some luck with it - again, native insects usually need native host plants.
You see more birds where two environments/habitats meet. Hard to do in a small yard but it helps to think in terms of what is and isn't available in your neighborhood.
For the U.S., try reading George Adams "Gardening for the Birds" 2013 edition. He has recommendations for regional native plants.
PS- I like Kress's "Bird Garden" and Roth's "Bird by Bird", too

This message was edited Jan 29, 2014 7:18 PM