Maine’s diverse ecosystem thrives on native plants that provide food and shelter for local wildlife. Berry bushes are the unsung heroes in our gardens, offering sweet treats for both us and the creatures that call our state home.
From my experience tending gardens along the rocky coast to the western mountains, these 13 berry bushes have proven most effective at bringing birds, butterflies, and small mammals right to your doorstep.
1. Wild Lowbush Blueberry
Maine’s iconic wild blueberry spreads through underground runners, creating dense patches that birds adore. Cardinals and catbirds flock to my patch every July when the berries ripen.
The low-growing nature of these bushes makes them perfect nesting spots for ground birds. I’ve spotted several junco nests hidden among the leaves in my backyard patch.
These hardy natives survive our harsh winters without complaint and require minimal care once established, making them a no-fuss addition that keeps giving year after year.
2. Black Raspberry
Arching canes loaded with dark purple berries become feeding stations for robins and cedar waxwings by midsummer. Last year, a family of chickadees nested nearby just to feast on the daily buffet.
Unlike their cultivated cousins, wild black raspberries have a more complex flavor that seems especially attractive to wildlife. The thorny stems provide protection for small birds from neighborhood cats.
Plant them along fence lines where they can spread naturally. My neighbor’s row has become the neighborhood wildlife highway, with everything from chipmunks to foxes stopping by.
3. Elderberry
Clusters of purple-black berries hang like chandeliers from these native shrubs, drawing in cedar waxwings and thrushes. The umbrella-shaped flower clusters earlier in the season attract countless pollinators.
I planted three along my property edge seven years ago. Now they form a living fence that buzzes with activity from spring through fall. Bears have even been spotted visiting elderberry patches in more rural parts of Maine.
The fast growth makes elderberry ideal for creating quick wildlife habitat. Just be prepared to share the harvest – the birds rarely leave enough for elderberry jam!
4. Serviceberry
Also known as shadbush or juneberry, these small trees produce berries that turn from red to dark purple as they ripen. The sweet fruits disappear almost instantly when they ripen in June – a sure sign birds are enjoying them.
White spring flowers make serviceberry a four-season performer in Maine landscapes. I’ve counted over a dozen bird species visiting mine during berry season.
Plant one where you can watch from a window. The morning bird activity around my kitchen-side serviceberry has replaced my need for coffee to wake up in early summer.
5. High-Bush Cranberry
Not a true cranberry but a type of viburnum, these shrubs produce bright red berries that persist through winter. When food becomes scarce in January, evening grosbeaks and pine grosbeaks descend on the bushes like holiday decorations.
The tart berries aren’t eaten immediately in fall like sweeter varieties. Instead, freezing and thawing cycles throughout winter make them more palatable to hungry birds.
My row of high-bush cranberries along the driveway provides critical late-winter food when nothing else is available. Even deer browse the twigs when snow gets deep.
6. Black Chokeberry
Glossy berries hang in clusters through fall and into winter, serving as emergency rations for birds during harsh weather. The dark fruits stand out dramatically against snow, creating a striking winter garden feature.
Despite the name, birds don’t “choke” on these berries – they’re just astringent to human taste. Robins, bluebirds, and cedar waxwings strip my bushes clean during migration seasons.
Stunning fall foliage in fiery red makes chokeberry a multi-purpose addition to Maine gardens. I’ve found they thrive in those difficult wet spots where other shrubs struggle.
7. Winterberry Holly
Nothing brightens a Maine winter landscape like these native hollies loaded with bright red berries. Unlike evergreen hollies, winterberry drops its leaves to showcase the fruit.
Female plants produce berries (you’ll need a male nearby for pollination). The neighborhood mockingbird guards “his” winterberry in my front yard, chasing away other birds until absolutely necessary to share.
Plant where you’ll see them from windows during snowy months. The contrast of red berries against white snow, with chickadees and bluebirds feeding, has gotten me through many February doldrums.
8. Wild Gooseberry
Small translucent berries hang like jewels from these understory shrubs, perfect for woodland gardens. Thrushes and catbirds particularly love stripping the bushes clean in midsummer.
The somewhat spiny branches create excellent protection for nesting birds. A family of brown thrashers raised their young in the protective embrace of my gooseberry patch last summer.
Gooseberries thrive in the dappled shade of Maine’s pine forests. I’ve tucked them under taller trees at the edge of my yard, creating a woodland edge that birds use as a safe corridor.
9. Blackberry
Tangles of thorny canes create wildlife havens that protect small creatures from predators. Catbirds and thrashers nest deep within my blackberry patch, safe from neighborhood cats and hawks.
The juicy berries ripen progressively over several weeks, providing a steady food source. I’ve watched families of turkeys methodically work through my blackberry patch, teaching their poults which berries are ripe.
Leave some wilder areas for blackberries to colonize naturally. The section along my back fence has become a wildlife superhighway, connecting different parts of the neighborhood for everything from rabbits to foxes.
10. Red Currant
Strings of translucent red berries hang like miniature grape clusters from these compact shrubs. Cedar waxwings perform acrobatics to pluck berries while hanging upside down – a delightful summer spectacle in my garden.
Currants bloom early, providing some of the first nectar sources for returning hummingbirds and early bees. Their dense growth habit makes ideal nesting sites for songbirds.
Plant several in a group for best fruiting. My small hedge of five plants creates a living bird feeder from June through July, with constant activity from dawn to dusk.
11. Huckleberry
Often confused with blueberries, these native shrubs produce dark berries with a distinctive crunch from their larger seeds. Bears famously love huckleberries, but in my suburban Maine garden, it’s the song sparrows that claim them first.
The bell-shaped spring flowers feed early-season bumblebees when few other nectar sources exist. Brilliant red fall foliage extends their wildlife value into a third season.
Huckleberries thrive in acidic Maine soils where other plants struggle. I’ve used them to naturalize a difficult slope where they prevent erosion while feeding wildlife.
12. Red Mulberry
One of the few tree options on this list, native red mulberries create feeding frenzies when fruits ripen. Dozens of species compete for the sweet purple-red berries – I’ve counted 15 different birds in my mulberry in a single morning.
The fruits ripen progressively over several weeks, providing a sustained food source. Overripe berries that fall feed box turtles and other ground-dwelling creatures.
Plant away from patios or walkways, as dropped berries can stain. My mulberry overhangs a wild area where fallen fruit creates a natural feeding station for ground-feeding birds.
13. Strawberry Bush
Despite its name, this native shrub (Euonymus americanus) doesn’t produce actual strawberries but distinctive warty red capsules that split to reveal orange seeds. Cardinals and mockingbirds are particularly attracted to these unusual fruits.
Also called “hearts-a-bustin,” the unique seed pods add winter interest to Maine gardens. The seeds persist well into winter when food sources are scarce.
This understory native thrives in the dappled shade of pine forests. I’ve incorporated several into my woodland garden, where they create a middle layer between taller trees and ground covers.