The best bird-friendly backyard combines plants that provide seeds, fruit, nectar and insects with trees, shrubs and grasses that offer shelter and nesting cover. The 22 candidates below are regional examples, not a universal planting list: check that each is native to your area and suited to your yard’s sun, soil, moisture and available space.
How to choose plants that help birds
Native plants feed birds directly with seeds, nuts, berries and nectar, and indirectly by supporting insects—an important food source for many birds, especially when they are raising young. Good habitat is not just a display of flowers: trees, shrubs, grasses and vines can also provide cover, nesting structure and refuge. Audubon’s guidance recommends combining plant types and food sources so something is available across the seasons (National Audubon Society).
- Check local fit. A plant’s native range, mature size, moisture needs and sun requirements matter. Audubon’s plant finder uses range information; verify candidates against local native-plant guidance before buying (Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Plants FAQ).
- Plan for more than one kind of food. Insects, nectar, seeds, nuts and fruit attract different bird groups and become available at different times.
- Keep habitat structure. Include ground cover, grasses, shrubs and trees where space allows, rather than relying on flowers alone.
- Choose plants carefully. When buying seeds, confirm the species are native to your region. Ask nurseries where plants were grown and avoid pesticide-treated stock, as Audubon advises (Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Plants FAQ).
Bird visits are never guaranteed: a plant’s value depends on local geography and which bird species occur nearby.
22 regional plant candidates for a bird-friendly yard
These are candidates to investigate, not a ranked or nationally universal set. Common names can cover multiple species, and even a familiar native plant may not suit every region or site. Confirm the botanical species, local native status and growing conditions before planting.
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Flowers and grasses for seeds, nectar and insects
- Purple coneflowers (Echinacea spp.). Leave seedheads standing into fall; goldfinches may feed on the seeds.
- Native sunflowers (Helianthus spp.). Their seeds can feed birds, including during migration.
- Asters. Their flowers support insects, and their seeds can feed finches and sparrows.
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). Its fall seedheads can provide food for birds. Check regional suitability before planting.
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). A nectar source for hummingbirds; match it to a site with suitable moisture.
- Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). They host insects, while the seed fibers and down can be used by goldfinches in nests. Select a species native to your locality.
- Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). A summer flower that provides nectar for visiting pollinators and can support an insect-rich garden.
- California fuchsia (Epilobium canum). Cornell Lab includes it among summer nectar plants; it is a regional candidate, not a fit for every climate.
- Wild grasses. Seeds can feed sparrows, while dense growth provides cover and nesting structure.
Fruit-bearing shrubs, small trees and vines
- Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.). Their fruit can feed birds in spring and summer; Cornell also notes their value as a place to find caterpillars.
- Elderberries (Sambucus spp.). The fruit offers food, and spring flowers attract insects.
- Dogwoods (Cornus spp.). Their fruit is used by birds including cardinals, titmice and bluebirds. Choose a locally suitable species.
- Cherries (Prunus spp.). Audubon includes cherry among plants that can provide food during the breeding season and summer.
- Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Its seasonal fruit can help feed birds moving south; verify native range and site conditions.
- Hawthorns (Crataegus spp.). Cornell lists hawthorn fruit among winter food sources; select a species suited to the local region and space.
- Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata). Its persistent fruit can offer winter food where the species is native and conditions suit it.
- Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). This native vine offers nectar for hummingbirds and fruit for other birds. Do not substitute an unrelated invasive honeysuckle.
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Its winter fruit is used by fruit-eating birds in its range; provide suitable space for a vigorous vine.
- Blackberry (Rubus spp.). A locally appropriate thicket can provide fruit, cover, nesting habitat and insect-foraging areas.
Trees and wet-site plants for food and shelter
- Oaks (Quercus spp.). Oaks support caterpillars, produce acorns and can offer cavities and shelter as they mature. Choose a species that fits the yard’s space and local conditions.
- Pines (Pinus spp.). Native pines support insects and provide seeds and woody cover.
- Hickories (Carya spp.). Their nuts add another food source, and the trees contribute substantial habitat structure.
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Consider it only for a suitable wet site; its seeds can benefit waterfowl.
Plan food and cover across the seasons
A planting that feeds birds only during one brief bloom or fruiting period leaves gaps. Audubon suggests serviceberry and cherry for breeding season and summer, dogwood and spicebush for birds moving south, and cedar and holly for winter. Seedheads from sunflowers, asters and coneflowers can support finches and sparrows. Cornell Lab’s seasonal examples include caterpillars on white oak and serviceberries in spring, nectar from wild bergamot and California fuchsia in summer, black-eyed Susan and sunflower seedheads in fall, and hawthorn and winterberry fruit in winter (Audubon; Cornell Lab of Ornithology).
| Season | Examples to consider | Potential food or habitat |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Serviceberry, white oak, elderberry | Caterpillars and other insects; spring flowers that attract insects; fruit as it becomes available |
| Summer | Cherry, wild bergamot, California fuchsia | Seasonal fruit, nectar and insect life |
| Fall | Sunflower, asters, coneflowers, dogwood, spicebush | Seedheads and fruit for birds preparing to migrate or moving south |
| Winter | Hawthorn, winterberry, cedar and holly | Fruit that can remain available in colder months; evergreen cover from cedar |
Availability varies by species, site and weather. The examples are planning prompts, not a guarantee that food will be present on a particular date.
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What native planting can—and cannot—promise
In a 2009 study in southeastern Pennsylvania, yards filled mostly with native plants had four times as many caterpillars as yards with non-native vegetation, according to Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Living Bird account. The same account reports that bird species of regional conservation concern were found on mostly native-plant properties eight times more often. Those are findings from one regional study, not a forecast for an individual yard elsewhere (Cornell Lab of Ornithology).
Likewise, plant-to-bird associations are broad rather than promises of a particular visitor. A seed-bearing flower may be used by finches where they occur, while a fruiting shrub may serve different birds in a different region. Local native-plant resources are the right guide for turning these examples into a planting plan.
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Buy regionally appropriate seeds and plants
Prepared native wildflower seed packets can be a convenient starting point, but a packet is useful only if its species are native to your area and suited to your site. Read the species list rather than relying on a broad “wildflower” label, and seek region-specific mixes or individual species packets. For trees and shrubs, consult a local native-plant nursery or plant society; seed mixes do not replace woody plants when the goal is long-term shelter, nesting structure or fruit.
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