Birds are a welcome addition to any landscape. Not only is it enjoyable to watch them flit about your garden, but they also act as helpful exterminators and pollinators. One way to attract more birds to your garden is to grow plants that serve as a valuable food source. Many plants produce fruit and seeds that contain essential nutrients for birds, while other varieties produce nectar that hummingbirds need to maintain their energy levels. Ahead, we’re sharing expert-recommended plants that provide food for birds and will keep them visiting your yard.
Dogwood
Dogwoods (Cornus) produce berries that are high in fat, which birds need to maintain energy levels and survive harsh winters, says Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy and certifications at the National Wildlife Federation. Berries are a favorite food source for many birds, including the brown thrasher, eastern bluebird, and woodpeckers.
Additionally, dogwood trees are a larval host plant for several species of butterflies and moths. “Caterpillars are a high-protein food source for birds and are also a primary food source for baby birds in spring and summer,” says Phillips.
- Zones: 3 to 8
- Size: 15 to 30 feet tall x wide, depending on variety
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil
Viburnum
Viburnum (Viburnum spp.) produces berries rich in fats and carbohydrates and is a favorite food source among cedar waxwings, robins, and mockingbirds, says Phillips. Like dogwood trees, viburnum is a larval host plant for many butterflies and moths and attracts beneficial insects, which are an essential food source for many birds.
- Zones: 2 to 9
- Size: 3 to 20 feet tall x wide, depending on variety
- Care requirements: Full sun to full shade; moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil
Black-Eyed Susan
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Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are an essential food source for birds. Rather than cutting yours back in fall and winter, leave them behind for birds to snack on. “Black-eyed Susans produce seeds in late summer and fall that are rich in nutrients and provide essential energy in fall and winter,” says Phillips. The blooms attract insects that birds can eat in addition to the seeds.
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Purple Lovegrass
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Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) provides high-quality carbohydrates, which birds need to produce energy and maintain their body temperature in the cold, says Phillips. Many small birds, including juncos and finches, like to snack on this plant.
- Zones: 5 to 9
- Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil
Oak Tree
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The acorns of oak trees (Quercus) serve as a food source for birds, primarily blue jays and woodpeckers. “Many insects abound on oak trees, which also serve as a food source for birds,” says Damon Abdi of the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University’s AgCenter. What’s more, the cavities in the trunk of oaks can serve as shelter for wildlife.
- Zones: Depends on species
- Size: 60 to 100 feet tall x 40 to 100 feet wide, depending on species
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Elderberry
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Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) produces white flowers throughout summer that give way to dark purple berries. These berries are packed with nutrients and are a valuable food source for birds during fall and winter, says Abdi. “The upright, shrubby form and arching branches provide a good nesting site for birds,” he adds.
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Size: 5 to 12 feet tall x 6 to 12 feet wide, depending on species
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil.
Birch Tree
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Birch trees (Betula nigra) provide a valuable food source for birds. “The seeds of this plant are consumed by birds and other wildlife, and the male flowers (catkins) are consumed by birds and squirrels during late winter to early spring, says Abdi. Birds that enjoy birch seeds include chickadees, titmice, goldfinches, grouse, and others.
- Zones: 4 to 9
- Size: 30 to 70 feet tall x 40 to 60 feet wide, depending on species
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist soil
Cardinal Flower
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Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is an herbaceous perennial with striking red, tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds, says Abdi. This plant is an excellent source of nectar for birds from late summer through fall. Nectar contains sugar, which helps hummingbirds maintain their energy levels.
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Size: 4 to 5 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; fertile, moist soil
American Beautyberry
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American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) produces small, purple berries in late summer through fall that are a favorite among many species of birds, says Abdi. The fruit is high in moisture content and is an important food source for songbirds, including the American robin, brown thrasher, purple finch, and eastern towhee.
- Zones: 6 to 10
- Size: 3 to 8 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates a wide range of soils; prefers well-drained soils
Winterberry Holly
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Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) provides profuse, bright red cherries that are attractive in the landscape and provide food for a variety of birds and other small animals, says Abdi. Among the winged creatures that snack on this fruit are eastern bluebirds, American robins, cedar waxwings, and woodpeckers.
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Size: 3 to 15 feet tall x 3 to 12 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to deep shade; tolerate a wide range of soils, prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soils
