Plant of the Month
Honeysuckle in a Bird Garden
Numerous books have been published on how to create bird-friendly gardens, including titles by well-known experts. We might reasonably assume that such books would provide solid information on how to create a landscape that would benefit our bird populations. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Following is an example that typifies much of the information in such offerings:
"A native of Korea and northern China, Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is a prolific fruiting shrub that shows great promise as a wildlife planting in the northeast."
Here the writer was looking at only one aspect of the plant... the fruit that it would bear. For decades, various honeysuckle varieties from around the world have been promoted for their value as fruiting and nectar bearing plants. Unfortunately, it is precisely that kind of thinking that led to the introduction of many fruiting plants, which, once established, invaded and ultimately destroyed millions of acres of habitat. Forgotten in the above mindset is the importance of native plants as hosts to the insect biomass that is crucial to avian reproduction.
We can still incorporate honeysuckle in our gardens, but we should use native varieties when we do so. For those who live in the eastern half of North America, northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera,) is a good choice. This plant, a small native shrub, is a round, mound-shaped deciduous shrub that produces funnel-shaped yellow flowers that turn reddish with age. Bush honeysuckle grows well in dry, open woodlands, and will do well in semi-shaded sections of your garden.
Other native honeysuckles can be used, depending on which part of the country you live in. Select a plant that is indigenous to your region; it will do well, and it will help to create a habitat that will benefit visiting - or resident - birds as well as other creatures.
Plant of the Month Archives
December 2008 - Witch Hazel
January 2009 - Winterberry
March 2009 - Desert Ironwood
April 2009 - Marsh Marigold
May 2009 - Serviceberry
June 2009 - Choke Cherry
July 2009 - Northern Bush Honeysuckle