Grow 5 plants near your birdbath to enhance your garden's appeal and attract more avian visitors
In the quest to create a bird-friendly garden, selecting the right plants is crucial. These plants not only offer aesthetic appeal but also serve as vital food sources and shelters for our feathered friends. Here are some expert-recommended plants to grow around a bird bath:
Coneflowers (Echinacea and Rudbeckia/Black-eyed Susan)
These vibrant summer bloomers are a must-have. After their flowers fade, they produce essential seed heads that provide food for birds in autumn and winter. They also attract pollinators that birds feed on [2][3][5].
Lavender
This fragrant, silvery shrub offers a calming scent, supports pollinators such as bees, and deters some pests. Its tidy, low mounds frame the bird bath without obstructing birds' access or sightlines [1][3]. Lavender thrives in autumn and winter, making it a great way to provide a consistent food source when food is scarce [6].
Agastache (Hummingbird mint)
With tall spires and anise-scented foliage, Agastache attracts hummingbirds with nectar-rich tubular flowers and helps repel pests like deer and rabbits, protecting the bird bath plants [1][3].
Salvia (Sage)
Producing nectar-rich tubular blooms favored by hummingbirds and pollinators, Salvia adds vertical color without crowding the bird bath [3][4].
Ornamental grasses and Leopard plants
These provide shelter and protection from predators and shade near the bird bath. Leopard plants offer colorful blooms while tolerating shade, complementing sun-loving flowers like Black-eyed Susans [2][5].
Consider these additional beneficial features:
- Plants with seed heads left through winter (e.g., coneflowers, Black-eyed Susans) offer critical food in cold months.
- Nectar-rich flowers (e.g., Salvia, Agastache) sustain hummingbirds and other nectar feeders throughout summer.
- Low or vertical growth habits ensure bird bath access and visibility while framing the area attractively.
Sun exposure is key: many of these plants prefer full sun and well-drained soil (Lavender, Agastache, Coneflowers), while others like leopard plants tolerate shade, allowing flexibility based on your bird bath placement.
By combining these plants, you can create a bird-friendly microhabitat that offers food, shelter, and water, encouraging diverse bird visits year-round [1][2][3][4][5].
You can purchase these plants at various gardening stores such as Gardening Express, B&Q, and Crocus. For instance, a pack of 10 English Lavender plants is available for £9.99 at Gardening Express, while Hidcote Lavender can be bought for £15.75 at Crocus.
References: [1] Green Feathers - James Ewens, Gardening and Wildlife Expert [2] Ornamental Grasses - RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) [3] Bird-Friendly Gardening - The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) [4] Wildlife Gardening - The Wildlife Trusts [5] Gardening for Wildlife - The National Trust [6] Lavender - Gardening Express
Coneflowers, with their seed heads that persist through winter, provide a crucial food source for birds during cold months. The nectar-rich flowers of plants like Agastache and Salvia sustain hummingbirds and other nectar feeders throughout the summer.
