Nurturing Nature in Winter: A Guide to Native Plants in Coastal Virginia
Winter can be a challenging time for wildlife, as they have to cope with cold temperatures, scarce food, and predators. As the winter season settles in, it's a wonderful time to turn your garden into a welcoming oasis for local wildlife. By incorporating native plants and other essential elements, you can provide food, water, shelter, and nesting sites for birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, ensuring their survival through the colder months. In this post, we'll guide you through the steps to create a thriving winter wildlife habitat right in your own backyard.
Choose Native Plants
Native plants are the backbone of any wildlife-friendly garden. Many of these same plants also serve as host plants for butterflies and provide nectar and pollen for many pollinators. Birds that rely on insects in the summer often turn to berries when the weather turns cold. Select a variety of native plants that produce fruits, nuts, seeds, or nectar during the winter months. Coastal Virginia offers a range of suitable options, such as American Holly (Ilex opaca), Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Find some more recommendations listed below!
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia): This deciduous shrub produces clusters of red berries that persist through the winter. Birds, particularly robins and waxwings, rely on these berries for food during the colder months.
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens): This low-growing evergreen plant offers both cover and a source of food. Its red berries are a vital winter food source for various bird species, including thrushes and grouse.
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica): Also known as the black tupelo, this tree produces small, dark purple fruits in late fall that can persist into winter. Birds like woodpeckers, cedar waxwings, and bluebirds are attracted to these berries.
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata): This deciduous holly produces bright red berries that remain on the branches throughout the winter. It's a favorite food source for songbirds in the colder months.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis): While not typically considered a winter food source, eastern redbud provides early spring nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Supporting these insects in early spring is essential for the overall health of your ecosystem.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin): This deciduous shrub produces red fruits in the fall that can last through the winter. These berries are consumed by birds like yellow-rumped warblers and eastern towhees.
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum): Known for its clusters of blue-black berries, this shrub is a valuable winter food source for various bird species, including thrushes, warblers, and sparrows.
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana): Witch hazel blooms in late fall and early winter, providing nectar for pollinators when few other plants are flowering. It's an essential resource for insects during this period.
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana): Though it may lose its leaves in winter, this shrub retains clusters of bright purple berries well into the season. Birds such as mockingbirds and robins feed on these berries.
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia): The beechnuts produced by this tree are an important winter food source for squirrels, chipmunks, and even deer.
2. Create Water sources
Water is essential, especially in winter, not only for drinking, but also for bathing and preening. You can provide water for wildlife by installing a birdbath, a fountain, or a pond in your yard or garden. Make sure to keep the water clean and fresh, and prevent it from freezing by using a heater or a bubbler. You can also create a simple water source by filling a shallow dish or tray with water and placing it on the ground or on a pedestal. You can add some stones or branches to the dish to provide perches and escape routes for wildlife.
This heater has served me well for several years in my own bird bath!
3. Shelter and Nesting Sites
Shelter is crucial for wildlife to stay warm and protected from the elements. Incorporate evergreen trees and shrubs into your landscape, as they offer year-round cover. Brush piles, fallen logs, and rock piles provide additional hiding spots for small mammals and reptiles.
Leave some dead or dying trees, stumps, or snags in your garden, and avoid pruning or cutting them unless they pose a safety hazard. These can provide nesting sites for woodpeckers, owls, nuthatches, chickadees, and other cavity-nesting birds and mammals.
Creating a winter wildlife habitat with native plants is a rewarding way to support local biodiversity and enjoy the beauty of nature in your own backyard, even during the colder months. By providing food, water, shelter, and nesting sites, you can make your garden a haven for birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, ensuring they have a safe and thriving habitat throughout the winter season. So bundle up, grab your gardening gloves, and get started on transforming your outdoor space into a winter wonderland for wildlife!
