Creating a garden that welcomes wildlife doesn’t require fancy equipment or expensive installations. A simple hedge made of the right plants can transform your yard into a bustling ecosystem.
When I first tried to grow a wildlife-friendly hedge, I thought any mix of shrubs would do. Turns out, some plants are more inviting than others – offering food, shelter, and nesting spots that local creatures can’t resist.
The following plants aren’t just pretty additions to your garden border; they’re wildlife magnets that work hard year-round. From berries that feed birds in winter to flowers that keep pollinators happy all summer, these hedge plants create a living sanctuary right in your backyard.
1. Hawthorn
Dense branches covered with white spring flowers make this native hedge plant a wildlife superhero. The red berries that follow in autumn feed over 150 different bird species through winter.
Hawthorn hedges also offer protected nesting sites for small birds like finches and thrushes. The thorny structure keeps predators at bay while smaller creatures find safe passage.
Plant hawthorn in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. It’s remarkably adaptable to different conditions and can be trimmed yearly without losing its wildlife appeal.
2. Blackthorn
Early white flowers appear on bare branches in March, making blackthorn one of the first food sources for emerging bees. By autumn, the dark blue-black sloes attract birds and small mammals.
The tangled growth habit creates perfect nesting opportunities for birds like yellowhammers and whitethroats. Many butterfly species, including the rare Brown Hairstreak, lay eggs exclusively on blackthorn.
Growing best in full sun or partial shade, this tough plant handles poor soils and coastal conditions with ease. I’ve noticed it’s particularly good at filling gaps in mixed wildlife hedges.
3. Holly
Evergreen protection makes holly invaluable for wildlife year-round. Birds nest among the prickly leaves while staying hidden from predators, and the dense growth provides winter shelter when other plants have lost their leaves.
Female holly plants produce bright red berries that feed thrushes, blackbirds, and fieldfares during the harshest months. The small white flowers attract pollinators in spring.
Holly grows slowly but steadily in sun or shade and most soil types. Remember you’ll need both male and female plants nearby if you want those wildlife-feeding berries to appear.
4. Dog Rose
Single pink flowers cover this native climbing rose in summer, creating a buffet for bees, hoverflies and butterflies. After flowering, bright red rose hips develop that stay on stems through winter, feeding birds when food is scarce.
The arching stems provide excellent nesting sites for songbirds like wrens and dunnocks. Many moth species rely on wild roses as larval food plants, making them crucial for night-flying pollinators too.
Dog roses thrive in sunny spots with well-drained soil. They add height to mixed hedges and can ramble through other hedge plants, creating natural-looking layers.
5. Hazel
Yellow catkins dangle from hazel branches in late winter, providing early pollen for bees before most plants have woken up. The nuts that follow become a valuable food source for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and small mammals.
Hazel’s flexible branches can be traditionally managed through coppicing, which extends the plant’s lifespan and creates diverse habitats. The leaves support over 70 different insect species.
Happy in partial shade or sun, hazel grows quickly and responds well to pruning. My garden hazel has become a favorite squirrel watching spot – they’ll spend hours collecting and burying the nuts each fall.
6. Elder
Flat clusters of creamy white flowers appear in late spring, attracting an amazing variety of pollinating insects. These flowers develop into purplish-black berries that birds absolutely love – sometimes stripping a bush bare in days.
Elder’s pithy stems provide nesting sites for beneficial insects while its leaves feed numerous moth caterpillars. The quick growth makes it excellent for establishing new wildlife areas fast.
This adaptable plant handles most soil types and conditions, though it prefers moist areas. Elder can look slightly scruffy in winter but makes up for it with wildlife value throughout the growing season.
7. Guelder Rose
Flat white flower heads emerge in late spring, with showy outer petals surrounding tiny inner flowers – a design that attracts numerous pollinating insects. The translucent red berries that follow hang in bunches well into winter.
Birds often leave these berries until last, creating a valuable emergency food source during the hardest part of winter. The leaves support several butterfly and moth species through their lifecycle.
Guelder rose adds spectacular fall color to wildlife hedges as its leaves turn rich shades of red and purple. It grows well in damp soils and partial shade, making it perfect for those tricky spots other plants reject.
8. Rowan
Clusters of white spring flowers attract bees and hoverflies to this slender tree. By late summer, bright orange-red berries appear that thrushes, waxwings and other birds feast on during autumn migration.
Rowan’s feathery leaves support many caterpillar species, including those of the larger moths. The relatively open canopy allows light to reach lower plants in a mixed hedge.
Hardy enough for exposed and upland sites, rowan handles poor soils and windy conditions better than most hedge plants. It grows quickly but remains manageable in size, making it suitable even for smaller gardens wanting to support wildlife.
9. Spindle
Small greenish flowers might seem unimpressive, but they produce some of the most striking fruits in any hedge. The hot pink capsules split open to reveal orange seeds, creating a color combination that birds can spot from far away.
Spindle supports the holly blue butterfly, whose caterpillars feed on its flower buds. The dense growth pattern provides excellent nesting sites for small birds like finches.
Growing well in most soils except very wet ones, spindle adds fall drama to wildlife hedges with its red-purple leaf color. It’s naturally compact, so works well even in smaller spaces where other hedge plants might outgrow their welcome.
10. Crab Apple
Pink-white blossom covers these small trees in spring, creating a pollinator paradise that buzzes with activity. The small fruits that develop stay on branches long into winter, gradually softening to become perfect bird food.
Blackbirds, thrushes and fieldfares all rely on crab apples during cold snaps. The fruits ferment slightly as they age, sometimes leading to amusingly wobbly birds after a feast!
Crab apples grow in most soils and conditions, though they flower best with full sun. They make excellent “standard” trees within a lower hedge, creating different height habitats that attract a wider range of wildlife.
11. Wild Privet
Clusters of white flowers appear in early summer, releasing a sweet scent that attracts numerous moth species at night. The black berries that follow provide food for birds well into winter.
Semi-evergreen leaves offer year-round shelter for insects and birds. The dense growth habit creates protected nesting sites and windbreaks for smaller creatures.
Wild privet handles regular trimming well, making it perfect for more formal wildlife hedges. Unlike its garden center cousins, this native version offers genuine wildlife value while still providing screening and structure. It grows happily in most soils except very wet ones.
12. Dogwood
Creamy white flower clusters in late spring attract a wide range of pollinators, from bees to butterflies. Small black berries follow that provide food for thrushes, warblers and other songbirds.
Dogwood’s real wildlife hedge superpower appears in winter when its bare stems turn brilliant red, creating habitat even when dormant. Many insects overwinter in the bark crevices and leaf litter beneath.
Growing well in most soils including heavy clay, dogwood tolerates both wet conditions and drought once established. It responds brilliantly to coppicing – cut stems to ground level every few years for even brighter winter color.
13. Field Maple
Tiny yellow-green flowers appear in spring alongside the emerging leaves, providing an important early nectar source for pollinators. The distinctive winged seeds (helicopters) that follow feed many bird species.
Field maple supports over 25 species of insect, including several moth caterpillars found on no other plant. The leaves turn butter-yellow in autumn, adding seasonal interest to wildlife hedges.
This native tree responds well to trimming, making it ideal for managed hedgerows. It grows in most soil types except very wet ones and handles both full sun and partial shade with ease, adapting to nearly any garden situation.
14. Wild Cherry
Clouds of white blossom make wild cherry a spring standout that draws in bees by the hundreds. The small red fruits that follow become bird magnets, especially for species like blackbirds and song thrushes.
The leaves support many moth and butterfly caterpillars, while the trees themselves often develop holes perfect for nesting birds as they mature. Even the gum that sometimes seeps from the bark attracts certain insects.
Wild cherry prefers well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. While it can grow quite tall, regular trimming in a hedge setting keeps it manageable while still allowing some blossom and fruit production.
15. Alder Buckthorn
Small greenish-white flowers might not look impressive, but they’re nectar-rich and attract numerous pollinating insects. The berries that follow change from green to red to black as they ripen, feeding birds throughout late summer and fall.
Alder buckthorn is the sole food plant for the brimstone butterfly caterpillar, making it essential for this beautiful yellow species. The leaves support many other insect species too.
Growing well in damp areas where other hedge plants might struggle, alder buckthorn handles partial shade and clay soils with ease. It has a naturally neat growth habit that requires minimal pruning to maintain.
16. Wayfaring Tree
Flat heads of creamy-white flowers appear in late spring, providing nectar for numerous insects including bees, hoverflies and butterflies. The fruits that follow put on a color-changing show – starting green, then turning red, and finally black.
This sequence means birds can feed on the berries over an extended period. The leaves are covered in soft hairs that provide habitat for tiny insects and their predators.
Wayfaring tree handles chalky, alkaline soils better than most native hedge plants. It grows well even in dry conditions once established and needs little maintenance beyond occasional thinning to keep it from getting too dense.
17. Honeysuckle
Tubular flowers release their sweet fragrance in evening hours, attracting night-flying moths with long tongues that can reach the nectar. During day, bumblebees often bite through the flower base to steal nectar they can’t otherwise reach.
Red berries that follow provide food for warblers, thrushes and bullfinches. The twining stems create perfect nesting sites and shelter for small birds.
Native honeysuckle grows happily through other hedge plants, adding wildlife value without taking up extra space. Plant it near garden seating to enjoy the evening fragrance while watching moths visit the flowers on summer nights.
18. Buckthorn
Small yellowish-green flowers bloom in spring, attracting various pollinating insects despite their modest appearance. The black berries that follow provide food for thrushes, warblers and other birds well into winter.
Buckthorn serves as the primary food plant for the brimstone butterfly, whose caterpillars depend on its leaves. The somewhat thorny stems create protected nesting sites for small birds.
This tough plant handles chalky, alkaline soils that challenge other species. It grows well in sun or partial shade and forms a dense hedge that provides excellent wildlife shelter. Regular trimming keeps it from becoming too large for smaller gardens.