Flowers That Attract Birds and Butterflies

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Songbirds, hummingbirds, and butterflies are easily attracted to your garden by flowering annuals, perennials, and shrubs.

A variety of flowering plants will attract a variety of wildlife.

Easy ways to attract birds and butterflies

Here are simple ways to attract butterflies and birds to your garden:

• Provide shelter. Trees and shrubs are a natural shelter for songbirds and hummingbirds. The addition of one or two trees and two or three flowering shrubs will attract birds. Trees and large shrubs will attract nesting birds and give them refuge from predators.
• Provide water. Water will attract birds and other animals to the garden. A birdbath or a low basin or pool with fresh water will attract birds, other animals, and insect pollinators (renew the water every two or three days). A fountain or bubbler that makes a splashing sound will attract birds. Butterflies will drink from water splashed along the edge of a birdbath or fountain.
• Provide food. Many flowers provide pollen and seeds that attract songbirds and hummingbirds. Flower pollen will attract butterflies, honeybees, and other pollinators. Most flowers set seed in late summer or autumn; this is the natural time seed-eating birds come to the garden. A bird feeder stocked with seed will bring birds to the garden year-round.
• Add bright colors. Birds and butterflies are attracted to clear reds and brilliant pinks. Hummingbirds are also attracted to pastel pinks and blues. Butterflies are attracted to all colors of blossoms especially white.
• Avoid spraying with chemicals and insecticides. Bug sprays, even organic sprays, will kill butterflies, honeybees, and other pollinators. Chemicals sprayed on flowers, shrubs, and trees will discourage and even repel many birds.
• Allow flowers to set seed. If attracting birds to your garden is a priority, let flowers go to seed rather than rushing to deadhead them. You may want to set aside the back of a flower bed or border for tall plants you will let go to seed. That way to can cut flowers for the house from the front and middle of a border but let taller plants to the back of the bed set seed to attract birds.
• Give birds and butterflies space. Set containers with flowering plants to the edge of the patio or deck; this will allow songbirds and hummingbirds to visit at the same time you and your guests close by. Place a birdbath or water basin just far enough away from your outdoor seating area that birds and butterflies feel no inhibition about vising with you nearby.

Flowering plants that attract butterflies and birds

Here are flowering plants that attract butterflies, songbirds, and hummingbirds to the garden:

Flowering plants that attract butterflies

Flowering plants that attract songbirds

Flowering plants that attract hummingbirds