Scarlet elder (Sambucus pubens) is native here (is it in >yourAlso check out some native Viburnum species that do thrive well in part shade (V. alnifolia or lantanoïdes, V. cassinoïdes or V. lentago), to get better bird species variety and different crop periods.

Well, I just happen to have a list ... I do include a few evergreen trees that have dwarf or narrow forms that might be suitable for some needs. If someone knows of others, please add them on. Kalmia latifolia, Mountain Laurel: large shrub/small tree but dwarf forms are available (Elf and others). Shiny, handsome leaves and beautiful flowers that are attractive even in bud, extending the "bloom" time. No berries. Blooms in late spring. Morning/early afternoon sun with protection from hot afternoon sun is best. Shade tolerant but needs some sun to bloom best. Illicium floridanum, Florida Anise: medium shrub up to 10 feet tall but can be pruned for a smaller height. Aromatic foliage, red blooms and attractive star shaped seed pods. Handsome, glossy leaves that resemble rhododendron. Shade tolerant. Illicium parviflorum, Anise Tree: large shrub/small tree up to 20 feet tall but can be pruned to maintain smaller height. Aromatic foliage, white blooms and attractive star shaped seed pods. Handsome, glossy leaves that resemble rhododendron. Accepts more sun than itÂs cousin, Illicium floridanum. Rhododendron catawbiense: large shrub up to 10 feet. Pinkish/purple blooms in late spring, many cultivars available, including a white one (ÂAlbumÂ). Large handsome leaves. Shade tolerant but needs some sun to bloom best. Morella cerifera (used to be Myrica cerifera), Wax Myrtle: large shrub/small tree but dwarf forms are available (ÂDonÂs Dwarf is one, 4-6 feet). Aromatic foliage, small grey berries which birds eat. Tolerates full sun and partial shade. Leucothoe axillaris: medium shrub up to 6 feet but slow growing. Foliage is glossy and emerges reddish in the spring and bronzes in the fall. Tolerates moist, shady conditions like streambanks but is also at home in the garden. White flowers in late spring, no berries. Agarista populifolia: formerly considered to be part of the Leucothoe genus, this shrub is larger than Leucothoe axillaries, fast growing up to 10-12 feet eventually. Tolerates shade and accepts heavy pruning, even when used as a hedge. White flowers in late spring, no berries. Good candidate for shady evergreen screen when a tree is too much. Ilex vomitoria, Yaupon Holly: Tree and shrub forms, including a weeping tree specimen, ÂPendulaÂ. Several dwarf forms are available, including ÂNana and ÂSchillingÂs DwarfÂ. Small leaves, no spines, red berries which birds eat. Hollies are dioecious, requiring male and female plants for berries (can cross pollinate with other hollies that bloom at the same time, even if the plants are in your neighborÂs yard). Partial shade to full sun. Ilex glabra, Inkberry Holly: Medium shrub up to 8 feet, but slow growing. Cultivars such as ÂShamrockÂ, ÂCompacta and ÂDensa are available. Bigger leaves than Yaupon holly and no spines; blue/black berries which birds eat. Tolerates wet soil. Hollies are dioecious, requiring male and female plants for berries (can cross pollinate with other hollies that bloom at the same time, even if the plants are in your neighborÂs yard). Partial shade to full sun. Ilex opaca, American Holly (technically a tree): one dwarf form is available, ÂMaryland DwarfÂ. Typical holly leaf, red berries which birds eat. Hollies are dioecious, requiring male and female plants for berries (can cross pollinate with other hollies that bloom at the same time, even if the plants are in your neighborÂs yard). Partial shade to full sun. Prunus caroliniana, Carolina Cherry Laurel (technically a tree): can be a large tree (20-40 feet), but this plant is popular for screening and the cultivar ÂBright N Tight is widely available. Small white flowers and glossy leaves 2-3 inches long. Leaves should not be eaten by livestock. Tolerates partial sun. Magnolia grandiflora ÂLittle GemÂ: smaller than the species tree, this dwarf still grows up to 20-25 feet at maturity, 8-10 feet wide. Full sun for best performance, but this will tolerate partial sun. Flowers at an early age. Mahonia aquifolium, Oregon grape holly: native to the western parts of the US, this is not a holly, it is actually a member of the barberry family. It can grow 7-10 feet tall in time. Looks best in partial shade. If you are planting this, be sure that you get M. aquifolium and not the imported Mahonia bealei which is naturalizing itself into unwanted areas. Evergreen shrubs that are not native include nandina and ligustrum/privet. These have become naturalized over time in the Southeast.

Entling, after reading about Pagoda dogwood I was smitten. Beautiful form and nice flowers and berries. I ordered 40 native seedlings from a nursery in NH, including 10 Cornus alternifolia. But these are going to be little baby 1-2 year old seedlings! I'm impatient and want to buy something that's already 6 feet tall at least. Gcreek, height is not so much an issue, but width is (this location is about 8 feet from the driveway). Something that grew about 15-20 ft high would be great but not as wide. Red chokeberry is probably too short and shrubby (but great for the other side of the yard!) Cornus florida would be beautiful but would probably eventually get too wide. Amelanchier seems to grow more vertically than laterally. Kind of a rangy multi-stemmed habit, but maybe with good pruning it could be shaped nicely. I also read that it casts fairly light shade and has well behaved roots and perennials can be planted underneath (which is good because I already have peonies circling this burning bush).

Dear Michele, I'm a volunteer Backyard Wildlife Habitat Steward for the National Wildlife Federation. I'd love to help you but don't know exactly where you're located. You may want to contact your local NWF office because there are Stewards all over the state who would just love to help you out. That's what we here for! Texas has so many different zones that's it's hard to say what will work in your area (what birds are native or migratory, which plants they like). Generally you want to provide food, shelter, water and a place to raise young. That means dense shrubbery, berries, seeds and grasses. It also means using native plants. If you aren't close to a Federation office I can put the word out on our Listserve to find a volunteer. You can email me via My Page (see above)or my website which has some information about creating a habitat and links to more information. Best of luck- you're doing "a good thing"! Here is a link that might be useful: Hill Country Gardens