Stephen Albert
Songbirds are attracted to the garden by plants that provide food–seeds, fruit, and nectar. Fruit-bearing shrubs attract songbirds. Seed and nectar-bearing flowers attract songbirds.
Drifts of flowers are attractive to almost all birds because they are home to insects and spiders as well as nectar and seed. Shrubs, hedgerows, and trees are attractive to birds for their flowers, fruit, and shelter. Grasses and vines are also beneficial because they provide seed and nesting materials.
To provide a natural haven for birds, choose from shrubs and flowers that attract birds. Be sure to choose plants that will grow in your region or growing zone.
Shrubs That Attract Songbirds
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and Black Chokeberry (A. melanocarpa). Aronias hold their fruit well into winter and 13 kinds of birds are known to eat it, including meadowlark and brown thrasher. Zones 5-9.
Shadbush (Amelanchier canadensis). Shadbush bears little red fruits eaten by 40 kinds of birds including flicker, oriole, cedar waxwing, hermit thrush, and robin. Zones 5-9.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). The berries are eaten by 17 kinds of birds including kingbird, red-eyed vireo, catbird, and every. Birds flying south eat the fruit. Zones 4-9.
False bittersweet (Celastrus scandens). Zones 3-8.
Dogwood species (Cornus). 86 kinds of birds are known to eat the fruit of various species of dogwood, especially Flowering Dogwood (C. florida) with red berries, Alternate-leaved Dogwood (C. alternifolia) berries blue with red stems, Silky Dogwood (C. amomum) fruit pale blue, Panicled Dogwood (C. paniculata) fruit white with red stems, Red Osiere (C. stolonifera) berries dull white. Zones 4-9.
Inkberry (Ilex glabra) and Winterberry (I. verticillata). 48 kinds of birds are known to eat the berries of these and other hollies. Zones 5-9.
Bayberry (Myrica caroliniensis). Berries are eaten by 75 kinds of birds including bobwhite, myrtle warbler, phoebe, chickadee, chewink, tree swallow, downy woodpecker, and flicker. Zones 3-6.
American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana). 14 kinds of birds eat the fruit of this small tree including cedar waxwing, evening grosbeak, and pine grosbeak. Zones 3-8.
Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis). Berries are eaten by 106 kinds of birds. Zones 4-9.
Viburnum species. 28 kinds of birds eat the fruits of the varies viburnums. Zones 3-9.
Flowers That Attract Songbirds
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Zones |
| Aster | Aster spp. | 4-8 |
| Beautyberry, American | Callicarpa americana | 7-10 |
| Bittersweet, American | Celastrus scandens | 3-9 |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia spp. | 3-10 |
| California poppy | Eschscholzia californica | Annual |
| Coneflower, purple | Echinacea purpurea | 3-9 |
| Coreopsis | Coreopsis spp. | 4-9 |
| Cosmos | Cosmos spp. | Annual |
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Zones |
| Goldenrod | Solidago hybrids | 4-8 |
| Honeysuckle | Lonicera spp. | 3-9 |
| Marigold | Tagetes spp. | Annual |
| Scabiosa; pincushion flower | Scabiosa caucasia | 3-7 |
| Staghorn sumac | Rhus typhina | 3-8 |
| Sunflower | Helianthus annus | 2-11 |
| Trumpet creeper | Campsis radicans | 4-9 |
| Zinnia | Zinnia spp. | Annual |
Also of interest:
20 Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds
50 Flowers That Attract Butterflies
