Must-Have Native Northeast Wildlife Shrubs - Juniper

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BY ELLEN SOUSA 10 COMMENTS

Juniper has been a staple plant in northeastern landscapes for decades, and rightly so, because they’re among the few evergreens that do well in the toughest of locations, with a rare tolerance to road salt. But did you know they are also one of the more important native plants for wildlife?
Junipers (Juniperus spp.) produce oily berries that are technically not berries but a scaly, edible cone produced only on female plants – this is important because many of the cultivars are male clones, so do your research before buying. Many species of birds eat juniper cones, including fall-migrating hermit thrushes, mockingbirds, grosbeaks and warblers, and because the cones persist into winter, they’re important forage for overwintering cedar waxwings, woodpeckers and sapsuckers. Cones are also eaten by small mammals such as squirrels and chipmunks.

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