Shrubs with Berries for Birds (and us)

With the right care, Gooseberries are long lived plants that will feed people and the birds.

Q: We have a low-water garden and want to plant some fruit bushes to feed both us and birds. My wife loves birds and spends a lot on bird food.

Serviceberries, photo by Idelle Fisher

What can we plant that doesn’t need a lot of water and will attract the birds?

A: A lot of the native shrubs provide fruit that many birds like to eat. Try Utah Serviceberry, buffaloberry, black currant, gooseberry, sand cherry, husk cherry, chokecherry, pincherry, and American plum. Low-water, non-native fruit bearing shrubs include: bush cherry and various fruit-bearing Junipers.

Many perennials in the sunflower family aren’t bushes but they produce seeds that are greatly enjoyed by hungry birds in the fall: Santa Fe sunflower, Echinacea and Rudbeckia.