Best Trees to Attract Wildlife: Deer, Birds & More in the Midwest

Are you looking to attract more wildlife to your land for hunting, birdwatching, or simply enjoying nature’s beauty? Whether you're in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, or nearby regions, planting the right mix of native trees can turn your property into a thriving sanctuary for deer, turkeys, songbirds, squirrels, and pollinators. At Roots to Fruits Nursery, we specialize in hardy, wildlife-friendly trees that provide year-round food and shelter for regional wildlife.

In this guide, we highlight top trees available from our nursery that support local wildlife—and help you build a biodiverse, beautiful, and purposeful landscape.

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Why Plant Wildlife-Friendly Trees?

Native trees are essential for attracting wildlife and sustaining healthy ecosystems. They:

• Produce fruit, nuts, and seeds for food throughout the year
  

• Offer cover and nesting opportunities for birds and mammals
  

• Increase wildlife traffic for hunters and wildlife watchers alike
  

• Improve soil health, pollinator activity, and landscape aesthetics
  
  

Whether you're managing a hunting property or simply love spotting wildlife outside your window, these trees are a natural win.

Top Trees for Wildlife from Roots to Fruits Nursery

Here’s a curated list of wildlife-attracting trees available on our site, with details on what animals they support and why they belong in your habitat plan.

1. American Hazelnut (Corylus americana)

• Wildlife Attracted: Deer, squirrels, woodpeckers, pheasants, ruffed grouse
  

• Benefits: Edible nuts and dense cover; great for forage thickets
  

• Pro Tip: Plant in rows for effective wildlife corridors
  

• 🔗 View Product (American Hazelnut Trees)
  
  

2. American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

• Wildlife Attracted: Deer, raccoons, songbirds
  

• Benefits: Sweet fruit in fall; attracts wildlife when other food is scarce
  

• Pro Tip: Plant near travel corridors to attract fall deer activity
  

• 🔗 View Product (American Persimmon Trees)
  
  

3. Serviceberry ‘Autumn Brilliance’ (Amelanchier x grandiflora)

• Wildlife Attracted: Songbirds, bees, deer
  

• Benefits: Early flowers for pollinators; summer berries for birds
  

• Pro Tip: Plant near water features to draw in wildlife
  

• 🔗 View Product (Serviceberry Trees)
  
  

4. Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

• Wildlife Attracted: Deer, turkeys, squirrels, blue jays
  

• Benefits: Produces large acorns rich in energy; great canopy tree
  

• Pro Tip: Excellent anchor tree in food plots
  

• 🔗 View Product (Burr Oak Trees)
  
  

5. Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

• Wildlife Attracted: Turkeys, squirrels, deer, waterfowl
  

• Benefits: Heavy acorn producer; nesting and roosting habitat
  

• Pro Tip: Mix with Burr Oak for staggered acorn drops
  

• 🔗 View Product (Pin Oak Trees)
  
  

6. Dolgo Crabapple (Malus 'Dolgo')

• Wildlife Attracted: Deer, turkeys, cardinals, finches
  

• Benefits: Persistent fruit through winter; spring blossoms for pollinators
  

• Pro Tip: Cluster plantings near food plots to encourage browsing
  

• 🔗 View Product (Dolgo Crabapple Trees)
  
  

7. Prairie Fire Crabapple (Malus 'Prairie Fire')

• Wildlife Attracted: Deer, birds, butterflies
  

• Benefits: Flowers in spring; fruit for fall and winter feeding
  

• Pro Tip: Use near blinds or deer stands for passive attraction
  

• 🔗 View Product (Prairie Fire Crabapple Trees)
  
  

8. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

• Wildlife Attracted: Songbirds, butterflies, small mammals
  

• Benefits: Abundant summer berries; spreads quickly for dense cover
  

• Pro Tip: Pairs well with serviceberry and hazelnut for shrub layers
  

• 🔗 View Product (York Elderberry)

• 🔗 View Product (Black Lace Elderberry)

• 🔗 View Product (Nova Elderberry)

9. Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

• Wildlife Attracted: Deer, squirrels, birds (especially wood thrushes)
  

• Benefits: Small fruits in late summer; timber value and shelter
  

• Pro Tip: Consider for edge plantings or naturalized zones
  

• 🔗 View Product (Black Cherry Trees)
  
  

⭐ Bonus: Wildlife-Friendly Apple Trees

Apple trees are a fantastic addition to any wildlife habitat, offering sweet, nutritious fruit that attracts deer, turkeys, bears, and birds. At Roots to Fruits, we offer several varieties perfect for wildlife plantings:

🍏 Yellow Transparent Apple

Wildlife Attracted: Deer, birds, raccoons
Benefits: Early-ripening apple; provides an early food source in summer
🔗 View Product (Yellow transparent Apples)

🍎 Sansa Apple

Wildlife Attracted: Deer, birds
Benefits: Early-season sweet apples; highly palatable for wildlife
🔗 View Product (Sansa Apple Tree)

🍎 Wolf River Apple

Wildlife Attracted: Deer, squirrels, birds
Benefits: Very large, hardy apples; good for fall feeding
🔗 View Product (Wolf River Apple Trees)

🍏 Granny Smith Apple

Wildlife Attracted: Deer, bears, birds
Benefits: Late-season apples; extend food availability into winter
🔗 View Product (Granny Smith Apple Trees)

🍎 Disease-Resistant Apples (Enterprise, Gold Rush, Liberty, Freedom)

Wildlife Attracted: Deer, turkeys, birds
Benefits: Reliable fruit production with minimal spraying; excellent for sustainable, low-maintenance wildlife food plots
🔗 View Product (Enterprise Apple Trees)

🔗 View Product (Gold Rush Apple Trees)

🔗 View Product (Liberty Apple Trees)

🔗 View Product (Freedom Apple Trees)

Bonus: Pairing Tips & Habitat Design

• For Hunters: Create micro-habitats by combining oaks, persimmons, and hazelnuts near travel corridors. Add apple trees nearby to enhance late-season attraction.
  

• For Birders: Layer serviceberry, elderberry, and mulberry with nearby water to boost bird activity.
  

• For Full Habitat Zones: Add native grasses like switchgrass and shrubs like red osier dogwood for cover.
  

Wildlife Watching, Hunting & Feeding Tips

• Viewing: Install trail cameras near fruiting trees like persimmon or serviceberry.
  

• Hunting: Use oak and crabapple groupings near bedding or staging areas.
  

• Feeding: Plant a mix of early (Yellow Transparent, Sansa) and late (Granny Smith, Gold Rush) fruiting trees for a continuous food supply across seasons.
  
  

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