Ornamental Tree or Shrub - Ask Extension
Ornamental tree or shrub 10-15 feet tall and wide to serve as screen from Airbnb next door Attracts songbirds but not rodents Can grow under shade of...
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Ornamental Tree or Shrub #868348
Asked May 14, 2024, 10:14 AM EDT
Ornamental tree or shrub 10-15 feet tall and wide to serve as screen from Airbnb next door
Attracts songbirds but not rodents
Can grow under shade of neighbor's Oak tree
Area gets some filtered sun, not a lot
Ideally flowers or has some color
Can survive MI winter
Montcalm County Michigan
Expert Response
Good Morning,
Here are a few that meet your requirements. Attached you will find lists of other options.
Alternate Leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), 15-20 feet all. Frequently overlooked for landscape consideration. Offers a wonderful horizontal branching pattern that works great to break up vertical elements in the landscape. Plant bears clusters of small white flowers and bluish-black berries. Leaves turn reddish in fall. Prefers partial shade but does well in full sun.
Native plants for Michigan landscapes: Part 1 – Trees - MSU Extension
Common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) – 15 feet. Multi-stemmed, vase-shaped large shrub that can be pruned to a small understory tree. Tolerates diverse site conditions, excluding wet sites. Bears yellow, ribbon-like flowers in late fall when no other plants are blooming. Leaves are clear lemon-yellow in fall. Best in moist, shady locations.
Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) – 12 to 15 feet. One of several native viburnums that add landscape beauty throughout the growing season. Offers creamy-white flower clusters in May and pinkish-rose and edible black fruit in early fall. Fall color is purplish to shining red. Plants develop into a large shrub or can be trained into a small, informal tree. Best in full sun to moderate shade.
Native plants for Michigan landscapes: Part 2 - Shrubs - MSU Extension
Southern Lower Peninsula - Native Plants and Ecosystem Services (msu.edu)
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
Here are a few that meet your requirements. Attached you will find lists of other options.
Alternate Leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), 15-20 feet all. Frequently overlooked for landscape consideration. Offers a wonderful horizontal branching pattern that works great to break up vertical elements in the landscape. Plant bears clusters of small white flowers and bluish-black berries. Leaves turn reddish in fall. Prefers partial shade but does well in full sun.
Native plants for Michigan landscapes: Part 1 – Trees - MSU Extension
Common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) – 15 feet. Multi-stemmed, vase-shaped large shrub that can be pruned to a small understory tree. Tolerates diverse site conditions, excluding wet sites. Bears yellow, ribbon-like flowers in late fall when no other plants are blooming. Leaves are clear lemon-yellow in fall. Best in moist, shady locations.
Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) – 12 to 15 feet. One of several native viburnums that add landscape beauty throughout the growing season. Offers creamy-white flower clusters in May and pinkish-rose and edible black fruit in early fall. Fall color is purplish to shining red. Plants develop into a large shrub or can be trained into a small, informal tree. Best in full sun to moderate shade.
Native plants for Michigan landscapes: Part 2 - Shrubs - MSU Extension
Southern Lower Peninsula - Native Plants and Ecosystem Services (msu.edu)
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
Thank you, they all look good, but one of my requirements is that it does not attract rodents. Can you tell me that any of those three above will not attract rodents? I'm already battling a mouse in my house issue and don't want to do anything that's going to draw in anymore.
Good Morning,
I have not found anything that declares rodent resistant for any particular trees, however you can modify environmental factors to moderate rodent populations. Burning, mowing, using herbicides or planting low growing ground cover to reduce vegetative cover can help make a site less attractive to rodents. Controlling ground cover also exposes rodents to greater risk of raptors, coyotes and other predators. Removing plant cover surrounding an agricultural area may also help in slowing movement of new rodents into a site. Growers may also consider encouraging raptor predators through perches or nest boxes. Ideally, adjacent landowners can work together to manage large areas of land to prevent high rodent populations from becoming established.
Rodent control for Michigan fruit, nut and Christmas tree producers - MSU Extension
Controlling Mice & Big Ole Rats | Mississippi State University Extension Service (msstate.edu)
Home & Garden - Integrated Pest Management (msu.edu)
Attract backyard wildlife with native trees (michigan.gov)
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
I have not found anything that declares rodent resistant for any particular trees, however you can modify environmental factors to moderate rodent populations. Burning, mowing, using herbicides or planting low growing ground cover to reduce vegetative cover can help make a site less attractive to rodents. Controlling ground cover also exposes rodents to greater risk of raptors, coyotes and other predators. Removing plant cover surrounding an agricultural area may also help in slowing movement of new rodents into a site. Growers may also consider encouraging raptor predators through perches or nest boxes. Ideally, adjacent landowners can work together to manage large areas of land to prevent high rodent populations from becoming established.
Rodent control for Michigan fruit, nut and Christmas tree producers - MSU Extension
Controlling Mice & Big Ole Rats | Mississippi State University Extension Service (msstate.edu)
Home & Garden - Integrated Pest Management (msu.edu)
Attract backyard wildlife with native trees (michigan.gov)
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
Thank you I did install a owl box last year but so no inhabitants so far.
That is certainly a start. Good Luck.
