Top 10 Plants to Attract Songbirds

Sunflower (Helianthus spp.)

Sunflowers, the king of seed flowers, entice birds with their easy-to-grow annual blossoms. They are great birdwatching spots as songbirds fill up during migration in full sun near windows.

Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)

Birds and butterflies love coneflowers for their tall stalks and long blooms. Bristly seeds from these hardy perennials attract wildlife to gardens year after year.

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)

Cornflowers, or bachelor's buttons, are loved by birds, bees, and butterflies. These beautiful flowers feed a variety of garden visitors with their seeds, nectar, pollen, sap, and foliage.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Black-eyed Susans are staples in bird-friendly gardens because they bloom long and are easy to grow. Their bright yellow flowers and dark centers attract many bird species, and their seeds provide sustenance.

Daisy (Bellis perennis)

Daisies are garden favorites with more than simply beauty. Beyond their bright appearance, daisies offer nutritious seeds that help wintering finches, sparrows, cardinals, and towhees.

Aster (Symphotrichum spp.)

Fall-blooming asters brighten gardens and feed birds. Asters produce scattered seeds in purple, pink, blue, or white, providing birds with a steady diet.

Marigold (Tagetes spp.)

Marigolds are loved for their colorful blossoms and bird-supporting role. Many birds eat marigold seeds, but grackles and crows favor the orange blossoms.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

Winter bird populations depend on Virginia creeper vine fruit. Virginia creeper fruit is a winter food source for mockingbirds, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and blue jays.

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Elderberry shrubs feed many bird species and are multifunctional. Elderberries' dark blue fruit supports brown thrashers and red-eyed vireos, improving local ecosystems.

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

Various bird species rely on staghorn sumac plants' autumn and winter berries. Staghorn sumac fruit benefits robins, thrushes, catbirds, cardinals, chickadees, and starlings.