Looking for a tree to plant? How about a tree that hosts over 150 moth and butterfly species. It hosts sawflies, whose larvae are food for baby bluebirds and chickadees.
Its seeds are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, voles, turkeys, bobwhite, mourning doves, red-bellied woodpeckers, pine grosbeaks, pine warblers, and wrens, and many other bird species. Warblers, crows, hawks, and bald eagles nest in it, as do others.
It tolerates poor, dry soil. It has a deep taproot and is essential for the existence of many species. It’s the state tree of Arkansas.
Give up? It’s the shortleaf pine tree, which can grow to 100 feet tall and live for 300 years.
Don’t cut down your pine trees. Nature needs our help. For more information check out shortleafpine.net.