Top native bird cherries

3 species, native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.

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3 native plants

Sun and shade

Light

Soil and water

Moisture

Dry 3 Well drained 3 Moist 3

Water use

Soil

Loam 1 Organic 1

Soil pH

Acid 1 Neutral 2 Alkaline 1

Toughness

Drought tolerant

Deer resistant

Resists

Form

Habit

Conical 1 Dense 1 Oval 1 Pyramidal 1 Rounded 1

Plant type

Perennial 3 Tree 3 Shrub 2 Poisonous 1

Chokecherry Prunus virginiana keystone caterpillars 367 hosts 15 food 88 flowers 191 shelter 1
Black Cherry Prunus serotina keystone caterpillars 361 hosts 15 food 114 flowers 183 shelter 2
Hollyleaf Cherry Prunus ilicifolia keystone caterpillars 85 hosts 4 food 47 flowers 59