The Grower’s Choice: Best Plants for Birds

Creating a bird-friendly garden is one of the best ways to support local wildlife while adding beauty and biodiversity to your outdoor space. A diverse selection of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, hedging, and ground cover can provide essential food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for birds throughout the year. In this guide, we’ll explore the top plants that will turn your garden into a haven for feathered visitors.

Trees for Birds

1. Malus domestica (Crab Apple)

A small to medium-sized tree that produces fruits and blossoms loved by wildlife.

• Why Birds Love It: Birds feast on its small apples, and pollinators are attracted to its blossoms.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in well-drained soil and can reach 8 meters in full sun.

2. Betula pendula (Silver Birch)

A stunning deciduous tree that supports insects, which in turn provide food for birds.

• Why Birds Love It: Seeds attract finches, while its canopy offers nesting sites.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers moist but well-drained soil and grows up to 15 meters in full sun.

3. Quercus robur (English Oak)

An iconic tree that provides food and shelter for many bird species.

• Why Birds Love It: Acorns attract jays and woodpeckers, while insects living in its bark feed smaller birds.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers deep, well-drained soil and can grow up to 20 meters.

4. Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan/Mountain Ash)

A small ornamental tree with bright red berries that birds love.

• Why Birds Love It: Berries attract blackbirds, thrushes, and waxwings.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in a variety of soils and grows up to 10 meters

Hedging Plants for Birds

5. Ilex aquifolium (Holly)

Holly is an excellent choice for bird-friendly hedging, offering both food and shelter.

• Why Birds Love It: The dense, prickly leaves provide excellent protection from predators, while its vibrant red berries are a winter food source.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Grows up to 20 meters in full sun to partial shade.

6. Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)

A valuable hedging plant that produces abundant berries.

• Why Birds Love It: Berries attract a variety of birds, including blackbirds and thrushes.
• Growing Conditions: Adaptable to most soils except waterlogged areas. Grows up to 6 meters.

7. Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)

A dense, thorny hedging plant that offers excellent nesting sites.

• Why Birds Love It: Produces sloe berries, a crucial winter food source.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in most soil types and grows up to 5 meters.

8. Rosa rugosa (Rugosa Rose)

A hardy shrub that provides edible hips and thick cover for birds.

• Why Birds Love It: Its hips are rich in vitamin C and attract finches and thrushes.
• Growing Conditions: Grows in a range of soil types and reaches up to 3 meters.

Shrubs for Birds

9. Sambucus nigra (Elderberry)

A fast-growing shrub that provides food and nesting sites.

• Why Birds Love It: Elderberries attract robins, starlings, and blackcaps.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in most soil types and reaches up to 6 meters.

10. Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose)

It is a stunning shrub with year-round interest.

• Why Birds Love It: Produces clusters of red berries that are highly attractive to fieldfares and finches.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers moist, well-drained soil and grows up to 4 meters.

11. Cornus sanguinea (Dogwood)

A colourful shrub that provides both food and shelter.

• Why Birds Love It: Its dark berries attract thrushes and warblers.
• Growing Conditions: Tolerates various soils and grows up to 3 meters.

12. Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)

A shade-tolerant shrub with bright yellow flowers and deep blue berries.

• Why Birds Love It: Provides nectar in early spring and berries in autumn.
• Growing Conditions: Grows up to 2 meters and thrives in partial shade.

Herbaceous Plants for Birds

13. Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

A vibrant perennial that attracts both insects and birds.

• Why Birds Love It: Its seed heads provide winter food for goldfinches and sparrows.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers well-drained soil and grows up to 1 meter.

14. Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)

A tall, airy perennial that adds height and wildlife value.

• Why Birds Love It: Produces nectar-rich flowers that attract insects, which in turn feed birds.
• Growing Conditions: Best in well-drained soil and grows up to 1.5 meters.

15. Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan)

A bright flowering plant that attracts birds with its seed heads.

• Why Birds Love It: Provides a late-season food source for finches and sparrows.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in full sun and grows up to 1 meter.

16. Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)

A classic plant that provides an abundance of seeds for birds.

• Why Birds Love It: Birds like tits and finches love sunflower seeds.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers well-drained soil and can grow up to 3 meters.

Climbers & Ground Cover for Birds

17. Hedera helix (Ivy)

An evergreen climber that offers excellent shelter.

• Why Birds Love It: Provides dense cover for nesting and berries for food.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in shade and grows up to 20 meters.

18. Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry)

A scrambling plant with edible fruits that birds enjoy.

• Why Birds Love It: Birds feed on the ripe blackberries.
• Growing Conditions: Tolerant of various soils and spreads up to 3 meters.

19. Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle)

A climbing plant that produces fragrant flowers and berries.

• Why Birds Love It: Berries provide an important late-season food source.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers well-drained soil and climbs up to 5 meters.

Conclusion: Create a Haven for Birds

By incorporating a mix of trees, hedging, shrubs, herbaceous plants, climbers, and ground cover into your garden, you can create a thriving habitat for birds all year round. These plants not only provide essential food and shelter but also enhance the beauty and ecological balance of your landscape. Whether you have a small urban garden or a large rural plot, these selections will help support local bird populations while adding vibrant greenery to your space.

Posted 16th Jan 11:50am