You Can Grow a Garden That is For the Birds!
Providing the food, water and shelter that birds need will encourage them to visit your garden.
Native plants that are local to your area attract and support many species of birds. According to Sally Roth, prominent author of bird books, Including Bird-by-Bird, native plants provide “the berries and seeds that bring in more bluebirds, orioles, goldfinches and a whole list of other most-wanted species. Birds are already familiar with native plants, which make them a surefire attraction when their seeds or berries ripen.”
Besides these food sources for birds, native plants provide food for caterpillars, a prime source of food for fledging birds. They also attract many insects that birds eat.
Top plants for bird gardens are:
- Sunflowers
- Coneflowers
- Black-eyed Susans
- Coreopsis
Native grasses provide seeds and shelter
- Gulf Muhly
- Little bluestem
- Inland sea oats
Plants that provide berries
- American beautyberry
- Yaupon
- Elderberries
Sarah Flournoy of the Houston Audubon Society said in a Houston Federation of Garden Clubs Newsletter that what we plant matters. Native trees such as oaks, cherries and pecans can support over 500 species of caterpillars, a common food source for baby birds, as opposed to Crepe Myrtles that support only 2 species. She provided the following list of native plants and trees that support birds in our area.
Large Tree
- American Elm
- Sugarberry (Hackberry)
- Pecan
Small Tree
- Mexican Plum
- Roughleaf Dogwood
- Parsley Hawthorn
- Yaupon Holly
Shrubs
- Wax Myrtle
- Rusty Blackhaw
- Arrowwood Viburnum
- Turk’s Cap
Vines
- Purple Passionflower
- Carolina Jessamine
- Crossvine
- Coral Honeysuckle
Grasses
- Gulf Muhly
- Little Bluestem
- Switchgrass
- Inland Sea Oats
- Eastern Gamagrass
Wildflowers
- Aquatic Milkweed
- Blazing Star
- Green Milkweed
- Texas Coneflower
- Rough Coneflower
- Blue Sage
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis
- Gulf Coast Penstemon
- Cardinal Flower
Avoid These Invasives
- Chinese Elm
- Bradford Pear
- Golden Rain Tree
- Ligustrum
- Nandina
- Elephant Ear
- Mexican Petunia
- Yellow Flag Iris
- Liriope
- Pampas Grass
Nest Box
Ms. Flournoy went on to say that you can help birds “by adding a nest box, including a water feature, and limiting threats such as outdoor cats and pesticides. Houston Audubon is committed to helping keep Houston’s common birds common. Join the movement by visiting www.houstonaudubon.org and becoming part of the Bird-Friendly Yard Program. Explore the Bird-Friendly Communities website for helpful information on many topics. You’ll find information on best plants, model habitats, birds to discover, our Natives Nursery, and other opportunities to make Houston a happier, healthier place for birds—and people.”
Bird Box
Another way to help birds is to provide a bird house. For instructions on how to build a bird house you can go to
Bird Bath
Bird baths are available in various places, including DIY stores and some nurseries. Here is my bird bath that I bought at a local nursery. We also installed a drip to discourage mosquitoes and attract birds.
