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Attracting Birds to Your Yard With Flowers

Updated on September 14, 2012
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Connie knows how very important natural habitats are to our bird populations. That's why she loves bird-friendly flowers, shrubs, and trees.

Astilbes, Petunias and Lemon Balm
Astilbes, Petunias and Lemon Balm | Source

What Will Attract Birds To Your Yard?

If you put yourself in a backyard bird’s place, what would attract you to an area? Probably the pleasant and beautiful surroundings. Just as we humans search for a lovely home with a pretty yard, so do the wild birds. If you see a beautiful garden with lots of colorful flowers, you feel immediately drawn to it. You want to take it all in. It instantly changes your whole outlook, right?


Nature has made it easy for them to distinguish which plants will provide for their needs. Birds are attracted to those plants that are bright, colorful and fragrant. They have sweet nectar or produce fruits and seeds as a food source. Those flowers that use the wind to pollinate them don’t need the birds’ help. So they most always have darker, duller colors that tend to blend in with the landscape.

Lovely Lavender Lilacs
Lovely Lavender Lilacs | Source

Busy Hummers in the Garden

Male Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Male Ruby Throated Hummingbird | Source

Do Not Use Toxic Chemicals

I can’t stress this enough: Do not use toxic pesticides or weed killers! Otherwise, you will be poisoning the very things you are trying so hard to attract. Opt instead for organic or natural controls.

Birds Pollinate Flowers

Our little aviators do the job of pollinating and distributing seeds that automatically replant flowers and shrubs. The plants in turn provide an appetizing array of nutritious meals for them. Besides seeds and or nectar, flowers can also harbor creepy crawlies that will offer the necessary protein to help baby birds grow rapidly and strong, as well as provide nutritious snacks for the adult birds.

Planting pest-resistant varieties of flowers, shrubs and trees (and there are many now available) makes controlling insects much easier. The majority of those bugs and weed seeds will be eaten by your loyal and hungry backyard birds. It isn't necessary to resort to poison.

Hummers Love Salvia

Bird Bath
Bird Bath | Source
Trumpet Vine Overloading Trellis
Trumpet Vine Overloading Trellis | Source
Blue Jay on Trellised Vine
Blue Jay on Trellised Vine | Source

Create an Irresistible Bird Magnet


A heated bird bath can mean the difference between survival and death for these feathered creatures. If you have a space to add a water feature like a bird bath, why not consider making it a guaranteed bird lure. Surround your bird bath with cotoneaster or dwarf cranberry viburnum. Then as a backdrop add a trellis. Against the backdrop plant sunflowers, trumpet vine and sweet peas. In front of the cotoneaster or viburnum, add some marigolds, zinnias and asters.

Everyday you’ll want to visit your new ‘bird haven’ to see how the beauty has attracted not only songbirds but maybe a hummingbird or two as well. Hummers can’t resist trumpet vine or sweet peas. And the sunflowers will produce seed heads that your backyard birds will love.


The trellis or framed wooden lattice, by the way, will make a great place for birds to land and use as a shelter from possible predators. They like to have a safe place that is close to their water to dry their feathers and preen after their splash. A bird bath that has plants nearby is safer and much more appealing to birds than one that sits by itself out in the middle of the yard.

Gold Finches and Sunflowers

Bee Balm

Bee Balm is a magnet for Songbirds, Butterflies and Bees and Hummingbirds
Bee Balm is a magnet for Songbirds, Butterflies and Bees and Hummingbirds | Source

Flowers That Are Attractive to Songbirds

As to the flowers that will attract the birds in the first place, consider those that are pink, red, yellow, purple or orange. The birds won’t mind if you plant only one color, or a combination of two or more colors. If it pleases you, it will draw them into your yard.

Easy-care Bee Balm attracts Hummingbirds, Songbirds, Butterflies and I have even seen the tiny Hummingbird Moth sipping nectar from this plant. Varieties now include red, pink, and lavender.

Plants I Have Used To Attract Birds To My Gardens

Flowers to Attract Songbirds
Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds
Old Fashioned Lilacs
Coral Bells
Korean Spice Bush
Foxglove
Viburnums
Honeysuckle
Ilex (Nellie R. Stevens Holly)
Lantana
Hollyhocks
Garden Phlox
Sunflowers
Trumpet Vine
Salvia
Rosemary
Bee Balm
Bee Balm
Marigolds
Comfrey
Purple Coneflower
Korean Spice Bush
Verbena
Anise Hyssop
Roses
Columbine
Snapdragon
Butterfly Bush
Sweet Peas
Lilacs
Cockscomb
Sweet Peas
Calendula
Weigela
Cornflower (Bachelor Button)
Astilbe
Larkspur
Fuschia
Rose Breasted Grosbeak in Mulberry Bush
Rose Breasted Grosbeak in Mulberry Bush | Source

Other plants that would attract birds include grapes, blackberry and raspberry bushes, mulberry and dwarf apple trees. If it produces a beautiful, fragrant flower, nectar, seed heads, berries or nuts, it will appeal to songbirds and/or hummingbirds as well as butterflies.

If you dedicate a space in your garden as a bird haven, however large or small, you will be rewarded with plenty of wonderful fragrance, colorful beauty and birds! Enjoy your bird-friendly garden!

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