There’s something special about seeing butterflies fluttering, bees buzzing, and birds flitting through your backyard. Creating a garden that welcomes wildlife doesn’t just benefit the local ecosystem—it also brings your outdoor space to life. At Cold Stream Farm, we’ve been supplying wholesale wildlife trees and shrubs for over 40 years to gardeners, landowners, and conservationists who want to enhance their landscapes with native plantings.
If your goal is to support beneficial insects, birds, and small mammals, here’s how you can transform your property into a vibrant, natural habitat.
Choose Wildlife-Friendly Trees and Shrubs
Native plants are key to building a wildlife-friendly garden. Trees and shrubs that are naturally found in your region provide food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for a wide range of species. They’re also well adapted to local growing conditions.
At Cold Stream Farm, our wholesale bare root trees and shrubs are ideal for creating this kind of environment. Popular choices for wildlife support include:
- American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) – Produces nuts that appeal to birds, deer, and squirrels.
- Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) – Offers berries, nesting cover, and seasonal color.
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) – Loved by pollinators in spring and birds in summer.
- Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) – Supports bees, butterflies, and fruit-eating birds.
These species do double duty—enhancing your landscape and offering vital resources to local fauna.
Create a Seasonal Bloom Plan
A garden designed for wildlife should have something in bloom from early spring through late fall. This ensures that pollinators and other insects have continuous access to nectar and pollen throughout their active seasons.
Here’s a sample approach:
- Early spring: Willow, Hazelnut
- Summer: Meadowsweet, Spirea
- Fall: Asters, Goldenrod, and fruiting shrubs like Viburnum or Chokecherry
This progression of flowering helps attract a wider variety of beneficial insects such as native bees, hoverflies, and butterflies.
Design with Layers and Cover in Mind
Wildlife needs more than food—it needs a safe place to rest, hide, and nest. You can support this by designing your garden with layers:
- Tall canopy trees for perching birds
- Mid-level shrubs for nesting and cover
- Low groundcovers or native grasses for insects and small mammals
Even a small brush pile or log can become a valuable shelter for bees, amphibians, or rabbits. Dense shrub plantings and thickets make excellent refuges for shy or nocturnal animals.
Feed the Pollinators
Pollinators are responsible for much of the plant life around us, and they need our help now more than ever. Bees, butterflies, and other insects are drawn to specific native plants that meet their dietary needs.
Some top picks include:
- Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) – Critical for Monarch butterfly larvae.
- Bee Balm (Monarda spp.) – A favorite of hummingbirds and native bees.
- Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) – Offers early-season pollen.
Avoid chemical sprays that could harm these insects. Healthy plants and a naturally balanced ecosystem often manage pests on their own.
Include Fall and Winter Food Sources
Attracting wildlife doesn’t stop when the weather turns colder. Birds, squirrels, and deer often rely on late-season berries, nuts, and seeds to get them through the winter.
Consider these selections:
- Hawthorn and Winterberry – Provide winter berries when other food sources are gone.
- Oak and Walnut trees – Drop high-calorie nuts that feed a variety of animals.
By planting species that offer food into the colder months, you’ll help local wildlife stay healthy year-round.
Shop Wildlife Trees & Shrubs at Cold Stream Farm
Located in Michigan, Cold Stream Farm is your trusted supplier of wildlife-friendly bare root trees and shrubs. We offer discounted pricing for large orders, and there’s no minimum order requirement—whether you’re planting a few trees or planning a large-scale restoration project.
Please note:
- Field inventory is based on estimates and subject to change.
- Unavailable items will be fully refunded.
- Orders can be placed anytime, but during harvest season, shipping may take up to three weeks from confirmation.
- We only ship to the lower 48 U.S. states, and online ordering is required.
Be sure to review our shipping information before placing your order.
Let Nature Thrive in Your Own Backyard
With a thoughtful selection of native trees and shrubs, you can turn your property into a haven for beneficial insects, pollinators, and wildlife. Explore our vast selection of wildlife trees and shrubs for sale at wholesale prices and start building your natural sanctuary today—with a little help from Cold Stream Farm. Contact us today at (231) 464-5809 or visit us online for more information!
