I’ve spent years experimenting with different plants to invite more feathered visitors, and let me tell you, some plants work better than others.
The key is to provide birds with what they love most: food, shelter, and a safe place to rest. If you’re hoping to bring more life to your garden, planting the right species can turn your space into a bird paradise.
I’ve narrowed down the best plants that attract birds, not just because they produce food, but also because they provide nesting spots, cover from predators, and vibrant color to brighten up any yard.
1. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
Few plants bring as much joy to a garden as sunflowers, and birds love them just as much as we do.
Once the bright yellow petals fade, they leave behind large seed heads packed with nutritious seeds that attract finches, chickadees, cardinals, and even woodpeckers.
I always leave a few flower heads standing well into fall so birds can feast naturally. Sunflowers grow best in full sun and well-draining soil, and they’re surprisingly easy to cultivate from seed.
2. Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
If you want to attract goldfinches, you need coneflowers in your garden.
These sturdy, purple-petaled perennials offer nectar for pollinators in the summer, and by fall, they produce seed heads that become a feast for birds.
I’ve watched flocks of finches cling to the dried flowers, plucking seeds throughout the cold months. Plus, coneflowers are low-maintenance, drought-resistant, and thrive in a variety of soil conditions.
3. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Elderberry shrubs are an absolute favorite of mine because they do double duty, providing food for birds and edible berries for me.
Their deep purple berries ripen in late summer and attract a variety of songbirds, including robins, bluebirds, and waxwings.
They grow best in moist, well-draining soil and can tolerate both sun and partial shade.
If you want to encourage even more birds, plant multiple elderberry bushes, as they produce more fruit when cross-pollinated.
4. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
Also called Juneberry, this native shrub is one of the first to bloom in early spring, offering delicate white flowers that eventually turn into red-to-purple berries.
Birds, including thrushes, orioles, and grosbeaks, can’t get enough of them.
Serviceberries are easy to grow, adaptable to various soil types, and their foliage turns a brilliant orange-red in the fall, making them a stunning addition to any landscape.
5. Holly (Ilex spp.)
A holly bush isn’t just a festive decoration, it’s a year-round bird magnet. The bright red berries of holly provide a crucial food source for birds in the winter, when other options are scarce.
Cedar waxwings, thrushes, and cardinals will flock to these shrubs, and the dense, prickly foliage offers safe nesting spots.
Hollies thrive in well-drained soil and need a male plant nearby to produce fruit.
6. Crabapple (Malus spp.)
If you have space for a small tree, consider crabapple. Birds love the tiny fruits that persist through winter, giving them much-needed nourishment when food is scarce.
I’ve seen robins, blue jays, and even migrating cedar waxwings make a feast of crabapples in my backyard.
These trees are also a visual delight in spring, covered in fragrant blossoms that attract bees and butterflies.
7. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Another favorite of mine for attracting goldfinches and sparrows, black-eyed Susan produces seed heads that birds happily snack on well into the fall.
These cheerful yellow flowers thrive in almost any condition and require very little care, making them a perfect choice for beginner gardeners.
If you want to keep birds coming back, let some of the dried seed heads remain standing through the winter instead of cutting them back.
8. Dogwood (Cornus spp.)
Dogwood trees and shrubs provide shelter, nesting sites, and bright red berries that are irresistible to birds like cardinals, robins, and bluebirds.
In the spring, they offer stunning white or pink blossoms, and by fall, they produce clusters of fruit that ripen just in time for migratory birds.
Dogwoods do best in well-drained soil with partial to full sun, and they add year-round beauty to any garden.
9. Millet (Panicum miliaceum)
Millet is one of the best grains you can grow if you want to attract seed-loving birds like sparrows, doves, and finches.
I started growing millet a few years ago, and it amazed me how many birds gathered to feast on its seeds. It’s an easy-to-grow, fast-maturing grass that thrives in warm weather and well-drained soil.
Plus, it makes a fantastic addition to natural birdseed mixes if you want to harvest and dry some for winter feeding.
10. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
A close relative of holly, winterberry is another excellent plant for attracting birds in the colder months. Its bright red berries persist well into winter, feeding robins, bluebirds, and mockingbirds when other food sources are scarce.
Unlike traditional hollies, winterberry loses its leaves in fall, leaving behind stunning clusters of berries that add color to the winter landscape.
This shrub grows well in wet, acidic soil and does best in full sun to partial shade.
