Plants and Birds! A Preview of the Arboretum Foundation Display Garden at the NW Flower and Garden Show

1) Arbutus menziesii (Pacific Madrone)
- Found throughout the west coast of North America.
- The bark is a rich orange that peels away on mature wood. Mature trees provide nesting cavities for birds.
- Many birds feed on the berries including American Robins, Cedar Waxwings and Varied Thrush.
2) Corylus maxima ‘Atropurpurea Superba’
- The purple leaf filbert is known for its beautiful burgundy foliage and festive catkins.
- Related trees include alder, birch and hornbeams.
- The nuts are often referred to as cobnuts, indicating something round and plump.
- Birds and wildlife are very attracted to the nuts and catkins of the hazelnut bush.
3) Berberis aquifolia (Oregon Grape)
- A beautiful, tall, native evergreen related to barberry, frequently used as an ornamental shrub.
- They have tough evergreen leaves, edible dark blue fruit and attractive yellow flowers.
- Birds are attracted to the food and cover that the Oregon Grape provides.
4) Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
- The Norway spruce is one of the most widely planted spruces both inside and outside of its native range in Europe.
- The cones of the Norway Spruce are the longest of any spruce.
- Birds love the habitat the dense foliage spruce provides for nesting and cover.
5) Vaccinium ovatum (Evergreen Huckleberry)
- A remarkable native evergreen shrub that grows in sun or shade.
- It produces beautiful light, pink bell-shaped flowers followed by edible blue berries.
- The berries, produced in late summer, are eaten by a wide variety of birds.