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Pine Trees
Pines provide food for caterpillars, nesting space for crows and hawks and nesting material for other birds and small mammals. Some birds have even adapted to retrieve pine seeds from within the cones, like nuthatches and crossbills.
They’re also great carbon sinks, absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while helping with soil stability and nutrient cycling.
Pines are native to much of the country but choose one native to your particular area. In the Northern forests, try pitch pine, Eastern white pine and Virginia pine, all top keystone species. In the West, lodgepoles and ponderosas are good choices because they’re more resistant to wildfire. In hurricane-prone regions, longleaf pine offers more wind resistance than other species.
Pines like sunlight and well-draining soil. Water deeply when young, Ali says. Also mulch, protect from strong winds and selectively prune and monitor for pests, diseases and signs of stress.
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Maple Trees
While the large maples in the Eastern U.S. are most celebrated for their fall foliage, a range of smaller maples are native to the West.
Wherever you live, they’re sure to lure caterpillars and other insects that, in turn, attract insect-loving birds like kinglets and warblers, says Pantin. Their nectar-rich flowers are great for pollinators. Owls, woodpeckers, warblers and tanagers nest in their cavities. Maples also attract deer, moose, squirrels and porcupines.
In the East, from Missouri to Maine, native sugar maples are known for their fall colors. In the Great Plains, silver maples are a keystone species. And in the West and Northwest, bigleaf and Rocky Mountain maples are good bets.
Maples prefer full-to-part sun and dry to moist soil. Ali says mulch around the base, water regularly during establishment and dry spells, prune selectively to remove dead or diseased branches and monitor for pests.
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Crabapple Trees
Crabapples are good for medium to smaller yards because their roots aren’t too invasive and the trees only grow 10 to 20 feet tall.
Their pink springtime blooms make humans cheery while also supporting bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Crabapple trees also provide nesting space and shelter for birds and small animals, and their fruit is a good food source for birds.
Some crabapple species came from Europe, but at least three are native, keystone species: sweet crabapple in the Northern forests; prairie crabapple in the Great Plains; and Oregon crabapple in the Northwest. But even if you have a non-native crabapple, it’s still a worthy habitat.
Plant crabapple in sunny locations with well-draining soil, and provide regular watering during their establishment period, says Ali.
