River Partners

Restoration Planting Design: Creating Wildlife Habitat

Fruiting Thicket

Planting a combination of shrubs and vines such as elderberry, rose and blackberry can provide two major benefits to wildlife. When blackberry climbs over and through the multiple stems of elderberry and rose, the dense cover provides protection from predators and structure for nests. These plants also produce fruits which are a major summer food source. Because they ripen at different times, the combination is a source of food for several months.