15 Best Trees for a Wildlife Garden: A Complete Planting Guide

There is something deeply rewarding about a garden that moves. Not just in the wind, but with life — a robin hunting worms beneath the leaf litter, a hedgehog shuffling along the base of a hedgerow, bees working methodically through a blossom-covered canopy. That kind of garden does not happen by accident. It is built, slowly and thoughtfully, around the right plants.

Trees are the foundation of any wildlife garden. They provide food, shelter, nesting sites, and ecological corridors that connect habitats across a landscape. A single mature oak, for example, can support over 2,300 species of invertebrates, fungi, lichens, and mosses. No other garden feature comes close to that level of ecological contribution.

This guide covers 15 of the best trees for a wildlife garden. Each entry explains what wildlife the tree supports, what growing conditions it prefers, and why it earns its place in a garden designed with nature in mind.

What Makes a Tree Good for Wildlife?

Not all trees are equally valuable to wildlife. Some ornamental varieties, particularly highly bred cultivars with double flowers, produce little or no nectar, pollen, or fruit. Others are so aggressive in their spread that they outcompete native flora and reduce overall biodiversity.

The best trees for wildlife gardens tend to share a few common traits. They flower in a form accessible to pollinators. They produce berries, nuts, or seeds that birds and mammals can eat. They have textured bark, hollow branches, or dense canopies that provide nesting and shelter opportunities. And ideally, they have a long seasonal presence — offering something useful in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Native species almost always outperform non-native ones in supporting local wildlife, simply because local animals and insects have evolved alongside them over thousands of years. That said, some carefully chosen non-native trees can also provide valuable supplementary resources, particularly when native options are limited by space or climate.

15 Best Trees for a Wildlife Garden

1. English Oak — Quercus robur

If there is one tree that belongs in every large wildlife garden in temperate regions, it is the English oak. Its ecological value is staggering. Acorns feed jays, squirrels, wood pigeons, and deer. The bark and decaying wood support hundreds of invertebrate species including rare beetles. Caterpillars feeding on oak leaves are the primary food source for blue tits and great tits raising chicks in spring.

The English oak is a large tree — it will eventually reach 20 to 40 meters — so it suits gardens with generous space or can anchor the boundary of a larger plot. In smaller gardens, the sessile oak (Quercus petraea) or native oak cultivars offer similar ecological value in a more manageable form. Plant in deep, well-drained or moderately moist soil in full sun.

Wildlife supported: Hundreds of invertebrate species, birds (especially tits and jays), squirrels, deer, bats, lichens, and fungi.

Best for: Large temperate gardens (USDA zones 4–8)

2. Silver Birch — Betula pendula

The silver birch is a pioneer species — one of the first trees to colonise open ground — and it brings enormous wildlife value in a relatively slender form. The catkins provide early pollen for bees in late winter and early spring, when food sources are scarce. The seeds feed redpolls, siskins, and other finches through winter. The bark supports lichens and mosses, while the leaf litter creates habitat for ground beetles, centipedes, and woodlice.

Silver birch is also one of the most beautiful trees in a garden setting. The white bark catches winter light in a way that feels almost luminous, and the fine-textured canopy creates dappled shade rather than dense shadow. It grows quickly, tolerates poor sandy soils, and is relatively short-lived at around 60 to 90 years — which means it begins to offer valuable dead wood habitat while many other trees are still in their prime.

Wildlife supported: Bees (catkin pollen), finches, woodpeckers (on aging trees), bark-dwelling invertebrates, lichens, and over 300 insect species.

Best for: Temperate gardens, particularly light soils (USDA zones 2–7)

3. Hawthorn — Crataegus monogyna

Hawthorn is one of the most wildlife-rich trees or large shrubs available to the British and European gardener. It flowers in May, filling the air with a distinctive, sweet-sharp scent and providing masses of pollen and nectar to early bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. In autumn, the deep red haws (berries) are eaten by blackbirds, fieldfares, redwings, and mistle thrushes — often over many weeks as other food sources diminish.

Dense hawthorn also offers some of the best nesting cover for birds. Blackbirds, dunnocks, and whitethroats all favour its thorny interior, which keeps predators at bay. As part of a mixed native hedge or a standalone specimen, hawthorn arguably delivers more wildlife value per square metre than almost any other plant.

It is hardy, drought-tolerant once established, and tolerant of exposed and coastal sites. In small gardens, it can be kept manageable with annual trimming — though always after the berries have been consumed in late winter.

Wildlife supported: Bees, hoverflies, butterflies, thrushes, blackbirds, warblers, small mammals.

Best for: Temperate and maritime climates (USDA zones 4–8)

4. Rowan — Sorbus aucuparia

The rowan, or mountain ash, is one of the most versatile trees for the wildlife garden. It tolerates cold, exposed, upland conditions that defeat many other trees, yet it also grows happily in sheltered lowland gardens. Its clusters of creamy white flowers appear in late spring and attract bees and hoverflies. The bright orange-red berries that follow are taken rapidly by birds — blackbirds and redwings in particular often strip the tree within days of the berries colouring up in late summer and autumn.

Rowan grows to around 5 to 15 meters depending on conditions, making it well suited to medium-sized gardens. It has attractive pinnate foliage that turns gold and orange in autumn, so it earns its place visually as well as ecologically. Plant in well-drained, slightly acid soil in full sun or partial shade.

Wildlife supported: Bees, hoverflies, redwings, blackbirds, fieldfares, waxwings, and various moth caterpillars.

Best for: Temperate and upland gardens (USDA zones 3–6)

5. Wild Cherry — Prunus avium

The wild cherry is one of those trees that stops people in their tracks when it flowers. In April, the canopy fills with brilliant white blossom that provides an early and generous supply of nectar and pollen. This makes it particularly valuable to bumblebees emerging from hibernation and to early-season butterflies such as the brimstone.

Later in summer, the dark red cherries are eagerly taken by blackbirds, song thrushes, starlings, and wood pigeons. The tree also supports a number of moth species as caterpillar food plants. Wild cherry grows to 15 to 25 meters but can be managed with pruning (done in summer to avoid disease). Its autumn foliage is reliably spectacular — warm red, orange, and gold.

Wildlife supported: Bumblebees, butterflies, blackbirds, thrushes, starlings, and cherry moth caterpillars.

Best for: Temperate climates, well-drained soils (USDA zones 3–8)

6. Crab Apple — Malus sylvestris or cultivated varieties

The crab apple is an outstanding wildlife tree for medium and small gardens alike. The blossom is rich in nectar and pollen, appearing in April and May, and is particularly popular with honeybees and bumblebees. The small, hard fruits ripen in autumn and persist well into winter, providing a reliable food source for blackbirds, fieldfares, and waxwings during cold spells when other food is scarce.

Several ornamental crab apple cultivars combine good wildlife value with attractive form. ‘John Downie’ has large, colourful fruits that birds take readily. ‘Golden Hornet’ holds its yellow fruits well into winter. Malus sylvestris, the native crab apple, is the most ecologically valuable option and supports a broad range of invertebrate species as well as birds.

Crab apples stay between 4 and 10 meters in most garden settings, making them practical for a wide range of spaces. They are largely unfussy about soil, tolerating both clay and lighter ground.

Wildlife supported: Honeybees, bumblebees, fieldfares, blackbirds, waxwings, and various moth larvae.

Best for: Temperate climates (USDA zones 4–8)

7. Elder — Sambucus nigra

The elder is one of the most productive wildlife trees available per unit of space. Few plants match its combination of early nectar (the flat-topped cream flower heads attract hoverflies, beetles, and bees in June), mid-season larval food plant value, and heavy autumn fruit production. The dark purple elderberries are consumed by blackbirds, robins, warblers, and a dozen other bird species.

Elder grows fast, tolerates shade, and does well in damp or nitrogen-rich soils — which includes most garden corners that struggle to support anything more demanding. It can become leggy and straggly without management, but coppicing — cutting it back hard every few years — rejuvenates it and promotes vigorous growth. It rarely grows above 6 meters, which keeps it accessible for most gardens.

Wildlife supported: Hoverflies, bees, blackbirds, robins, blackcaps, garden warblers, bullfinches, and over 20 moth species.

Best for: Temperate climates, tolerates shade and damp (USDA zones 4–9)

8. Field Maple — Acer campestre

The field maple is native to much of Europe and is one of the most underused trees in wildlife gardening. It is a quiet, unassuming tree — not as dramatic in spring blossom as the cherry, nor as berry-laden as the hawthorn — but it earns its place through consistent, long-term ecological contribution. The flowers provide nectar for bees and hoverflies in spring. The winged seeds (samaras) feed finches and small mammals. The bark and foliage support aphids, which in turn feed ladybirds, lacewings, and blue tits feeding young.

Field maple can be grown as a standalone specimen reaching 10 to 15 meters, or clipped as part of a mixed native hedge. It has attractive lobed leaves that turn clear yellow in autumn. It tolerates chalk and clay soils and is a good choice for exposed garden sites.

Wildlife supported: Bees, hoverflies, finches, small mammals, ladybirds, lacewings, and aphid-dependent food chains.

Best for: Temperate European gardens (USDA zones 5–8)

9. Holly — Ilex aquifolium

Holly’s value to wildlife is as much about what it provides in winter as in any other season. The dense, spiny foliage is impenetrable to most predators, making it exceptional nesting cover for robins, song thrushes, and goldcrests. Blackbirds roost in holly throughout the cold months. The red berries — produced only by female trees — persist well into winter and are consumed by thrushes, blackbirds, and redwings when other food sources are depleted.

For berries, plant both male and female holly trees, or choose a self-fertile variety. Holly grows slowly, tolerates shade and coastal exposure, and can be maintained as a hedge or allowed to develop into a 10 to 25 meter tree over time. The white flowers also attract bees in May.

Wildlife supported: Robins, song thrushes, blackbirds, goldcrests, redwings, bees, and the holly blue butterfly (which lays its eggs on holly).

Best for: Temperate climates (USDA zones 5–9)

10. Blackthorn — Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn is a thorny, dense-growing small tree or large shrub that is invaluable in the wildlife garden, particularly at the boundaries of a plot. Its early white flowers — appearing in March before the leaves, which is unusual — provide critical nectar and pollen at a time when bees are desperate for it after winter. The dark blue-black sloe berries ripen in autumn and are taken by fieldfares, blackbirds, and redwings.

The impenetrable thickets that blackthorn forms are among the best nesting cover available. Yellowhammers, bullfinches, and nightingales are among the birds associated with blackthorn scrub. Its dense network of stems also shelters small mammals, amphibians, and overwintering insects.

Blackthorn spreads by suckers if left unmanaged, so some control is needed in smaller gardens. In a larger wildlife plot, however, this spreading habit creates the kind of complex structural diversity that supports the greatest number of species.

Wildlife supported: Early bees, blackbirds, fieldfares, redwings, yellowhammers, bullfinches, and the brown hairstreak butterfly (which lays its eggs on blackthorn).

Best for: Temperate climates (USDA zones 4–8)

11. Downy Birch — Betula pubescens

The downy birch is closely related to the silver birch but tolerates wetter, heavier soils and colder northern conditions where Betula pendula may struggle. For wildlife gardens on poorly drained ground or in upland areas, it is often the better choice of the two. Its ecological value is comparable: catkins for early pollinators, seeds for finches, and bark and decaying wood that support a remarkable diversity of invertebrates, fungi, and lichens.

Downy birch grows slightly more slowly than silver birch and has a softer, less dramatically white bark, but it develops the same open canopy that creates habitat beneath it for wildflowers and invertebrates. It is a valuable choice for wet woodland-style garden designs and rain gardens where other trees might fail.

Wildlife supported: Bees, finches, woodpeckers, bark invertebrates, fungi, and lichens.

Best for: Temperate gardens with moist or heavy soils (USDA zones 2–7)

12. Guelder Rose — Viburnum opulus

Guelder rose occupies the boundary between a large shrub and a small tree, reaching around 4 to 5 meters in garden conditions. It is one of the most ecologically complete native plants in temperate Europe. The flat-topped white flowers in May and June attract hoverflies, beetles, and bees. The translucent red berries that follow in autumn are taken by bullfinches, mistle thrushes, and blackbirds. The dense branching structure provides nesting habitat for warblers and other small birds.

Guelder rose prefers moist, slightly alkaline soils and tolerates partial shade, making it a practical choice for damper corners of a garden. The foliage turns brilliant red and purple in autumn — this is a tree with year-round visual appeal as well as genuine wildlife value.

Wildlife supported: Hoverflies, bees, bullfinches, mistle thrushes, blackbirds, and various moth species.

Best for: Temperate climates, moist soils (USDA zones 3–8)

13. Scots Pine — Pinus sylvestris

Where space allows, the Scots pine is one of the most distinctive and valuable conifers to include in a wildlife garden. It is the only pine native to northern Europe and supports a specific community of wildlife associated with it. Red squirrels depend heavily on pine cones in areas where this species survives. Crossbills, which have evolved uniquely shaped bills to extract seeds from pine cones, nest in mature Scots pine. Goldcrests and coal tits frequent the canopy year-round.

Beneath the tree, the fallen needles create an acidic, dry habitat that supports specialised heathland plants and insects. Treecreepers work their way methodically up the deeply furrowed bark searching for insects and spiders. Bats use the canopy for foraging at dusk. Scots pine grows to 20 to 35 meters over time but remains manageable in its early decades. It prefers light, acidic, well-drained soils.

Wildlife supported: Red squirrels, crossbills, goldcrests, coal tits, treecreepers, bats, and heathland insects.

Best for: Temperate and boreal climates, acidic soils (USDA zones 2–7)

14. Wild Pear — Pyrus pyraster

The wild pear is far less commonly planted than its cultivated relatives, yet it is a genuinely valuable tree for wildlife. The early white flowers appear in April, providing nectar for queen bumblebees and early hoverflies. The small, hard fruits ripen in autumn and, while unpalatable to humans, are eaten by blackbirds, thrushes, and small mammals such as dormice and wood mice.

Wild pear is a sturdy, long-lived tree that eventually develops deeply furrowed, interesting bark — a feature that accumulates significant invertebrate life over decades. It grows to around 15 to 20 meters but tolerates clipping and can be managed as part of a wildlife hedge. It prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil and full sun.

Wildlife supported: Bumblebees, hoverflies, blackbirds, thrushes, dormice, wood mice, and bark invertebrates.

Best for: Temperate climates (USDA zones 4–8)

15. Alder — Alnus glutinosa

The alder is an outstanding choice for wildlife gardens with a stream, pond, or area of consistently moist ground. It is one of very few trees that actually improves soil nitrogen levels, fixing nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in its root nodules. This enriches the surrounding habitat and benefits associated plants. The catkins provide early pollen, the seeds feed siskins and redpolls through autumn and winter, and the root systems — partially submerged in stream banks — provide shelter for fish, water voles, and otters.

Alder grows to 20 to 25 meters in ideal conditions but can be coppiced to maintain a smaller, multi-stemmed form. It is the food plant for several moth species and its wet wood, as it ages, supports specialist wood-boring beetles. If your garden has a damp area that other trees dislike, alder is almost certainly the right tree for it.

Wildlife supported: Siskins, redpolls, bees (catkin pollen), water voles, otters, fish, specialist beetles, and multiple moth species.

Best for: Temperate gardens with wet or waterside conditions (USDA zones 3–7)

How to Plan a Wildlife Tree Garden

Think in Layers

A garden that supports the widest range of wildlife usually has a clear structural layering: tall canopy trees, mid-height trees and large shrubs, and an understorey of smaller shrubs and ground cover. Each layer provides distinct habitat. Planting even two or three of the trees in this guide alongside some native shrubs and wildflowers will create this layered effect over time.

Prioritise Native Species

As a general principle, native trees support far more wildlife than exotic ones, simply because local insects and animals have evolved to use them. If space is limited, prioritise native species over ornamentals. Where you do include non-native trees for visual reasons, try to ensure they at least offer flowers accessible to pollinators or fruit that birds will eat.

Consider Year-Round Value

The most effective wildlife trees offer something in every season. Early blossom for bees in late winter and spring. Leaves and flowers for moth caterpillars in summer. Berries and seeds for birds in autumn and winter. Bark, hollow branches, and leaf litter as habitat through all seasons. When selecting trees, think about what they contribute in December as well as in May.

Leave Dead Wood in Place

Deadwood is among the most biologically rich habitats in any garden. Resist the urge to remove dead branches or fallen logs unless they pose a genuine safety risk. Woodpeckers, treecreepers, stag beetles, and a host of fungi depend on decaying timber. A standing dead tree — if safe to leave — can become one of the most valuable features in the entire garden.

Avoid Chemical Treatments

A wildlife garden depends on insects, and many insect species are sensitive to pesticide residues. Aphids on your trees are not a problem — they are food. Caterpillars eating leaves are not a disaster — they are sustaining the next generation of birds. Resist the impulse to intervene and allow the garden’s own food chains to find their balance.

Final Thoughts

The trees in this guide represent some of the most ecologically valuable choices available for a wildlife garden in temperate regions. None of them requires expert horticultural knowledge to grow. Most are available from specialist native tree nurseries and increasingly from mainstream garden centres.

The most important step is simply to start. Plant one tree this autumn — a hawthorn along the fence line, a rowan in a sunny corner, or an elder beside a damp patch of ground — and the wildlife will find it. Often sooner than you expect. There is something genuinely moving about watching a fieldfare strip the berries from a tree you planted yourself, or spotting a blue tit entering a hollow branch on a cold January morning.

Wildlife gardening is, at its heart, an act of generosity. You are creating habitat for species that have nowhere else to go. The trees in this guide are among the most powerful tools available for that work.

References

1. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Trees for Wildlife. The RHS provides evidence-based guidance on selecting trees that support native wildlife, including birds, insects, and mammals, with specific recommendations for garden planting across different sizes and soil types. https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/trees-for-wildlife
   
2. Woodland Trust — Native Trees and Wildlife. The Woodland Trust, the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, offers detailed profiles of native tree species and their ecological value, backed by decades of conservation research and habitat monitoring. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/
   
3. University of Florida IFAS Extension — Wildlife-Friendly Landscaping. This University of Florida extension publication covers the principles of planting trees and shrubs to support native wildlife, including habitat layering, plant selection, and reducing pesticide use in wildlife-friendly gardens. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW057
   
4. Penn State Extension — Landscape Plants for Wildlife. Penn State’s horticultural extension covers plant selection for supporting native birds, pollinators, and mammals, with guidance on structuring plantings to maximise ecological connectivity and year-round habitat value. https://extension.psu.edu/landscape-plants-for-wildlife
   
5. USDA Forest Service — Wildlife Habitat Management of Forestlands, Wetlands and Farm Lands. This research-based USDA publication provides scientific context for how trees and woodland structure support biodiversity, covering the ecological roles of native species, deadwood habitats, and landscape-scale connectivity. https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/3571