Best Plant Picks, Bush and Shrub Care, Tree Care

Best Botanicals for Backyard Birds

Best Botanical for Backyard Birds - Nature Hills Nursery

Nature Hills Nursery | February 14, 2026

For centuries before cities and suburbs began to develop, trees and other plants had been supporting local ecosystems’ key wildlife in many different ways. Be it shelter, a meal, or even just some shade on a hot day, the abundance of plants on this green Earth of ours kept the circle of life rolling.

In modern cities and towns, however, it can be difficult for modern birds to find these sources of food and shelter as they could decades prior. This usually leads to a lack of certain species of birds in an area, or even very sparse populations of these species in general.

We here at Nature Hills can help bring back the birds to your backyard! Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike need only to browse our stock to find an assortment of trees and other plants that look amazing while also supporting your local avian wildlife.

Qualities to Support the Ecosystem

For plants to be able to support a bird’s survival needs, they need to have a few key properties. These can be summed up in 3 parts: can this plant feed these birds, can it feed them all year round, and can they use this plant as shelter?

First, food: attracting birds is a good starting goal, but to keep your local feathered friends in the neighborhood, it’s important to keep them well fed! Later in this article, we will explore all the unexpected ways plants can provide food for birds.

Next, how long is this food going to last? Since not all non-migratory birds are predators, keeping your local birds healthy and fed through the winter is something to keep in mind in colder parts of the country.

Finally, shelter. If they decide to stick around, these beautiful birdies will need a place to spend the night. Make sure to grow plants that provide adequate bird-friendly shelter so they can settle down during the warmer months (if you’re lucky, they may even start a family before your very eyes!)

Importance of Native Plants

While there are quite a few differences between the services flowers, trees, and shrubs provide your local avifauna, it is important to make sure that you are planting flora native to your region. Foreign plants are attractive and usually hardy, but when introduced to a new environment, they can affect food sources in the area.

Particular insects have adapted over time to subsist only on particular trees. In turn, local birds have learned to seek out these trees for particular six-legged snacks.

Plants native to your area also have an all-around better chance of survival due to their natural adaptation to the environment. Better survivability means less maintenance for you and more reliable food and shelter for the area’s birds!

Nature Hills Nursery already has more information about native plants ready for you! Read more about the importance of and how to use native plants in your landscape in this article!

Fruit, Seeds, and Protein

The most common sources of food for birds are the naturally occurring reproductive sources that these flora produce in part for birds! Berries, fruit, and seeds are all excellent meals for local fliers, and some of these plants will be able to grow anew when the bird is… well, “finished” with its meal.

One thing to keep in mind is that while certain plants won’t produce food throughout the year, that doesn’t mean they won’t help a hungry bird find a meal. Sometimes, plants being able to support other, smaller wildlife is enough!

Certain trees, such as Oak trees, do a great job of supporting a wide variety of an ecosystem’s smaller wildlife, such as caterpillars and other grub-like insects. Birds love their insect protein, and in turn, will flock to these trees in search of a wiggly meal to bring home to the kids.

Copious nectar attracts hummingbirds without the need for an expensive feeder as well! Plants and trees whose flowers bear nectar are sure to feed dozens and dozens of hummingbirds over their lifetimes.

Examples of Native Plants

Due to the vast plant variety of the United States, the term “native” can mean both native to the country and native to a particular area of the country. Due to this discrepancy, we recommend that interested growers do some research to find varieties of plants native to their immediate area for the best results.

Our stock does include many plants native to a majority of the United States, however! Here are just a few of the examples of native trees, shrubs, and flowers available on our online store:

Purple Coneflower: (Echinacea purpurea) A two-for-one special for any eating birds, the Purple Coneflower is a widespread plains native. Hardy and drought-tolerant, this flower provides both tasty seeds birds love and attracts a wide variety of bugs for an avian’s protein needs.

Great Blue Lobelia: (Lobelia siphilitica) A late-blooming cousin of the Cardinal Flower, the Great Blue Lobelia bears dense blue spikes of flowers. Full of nectar, the long-lasting droops of flowers make for a great treat to local hummingbirds.

Oakleaf Hydrangea: (Hydrangea quercifolia) A flowering shrub with dense clusters of white and pink flowers, the Oakleaf Hydrangea’s thick foliage provides great shelter to birds. The seeds of the plant’s blooms also provide food as the summer closes.

Red Sprite Holly: (Ilex verticillata) The compact deciduous shrub Red Sprite Holly provides not only several seasons of interest but several seasons of meals as well! Its red berries grow in the fall and last well into winter, but it is important to note that this female plant needs a male partner to bear fruit at all.

Nordic Inkberry: (Ilex glabra 'Chamzin') Nordic Inkberry shrubs are a cousin of the holly plant with similar qualities of long-lasting berries. This makes for a great source of food in winter when the bugs lose their prominence.

Oak Trees: (Quercus spp.) Medium to large-sized trees; Oak trees provide many advantages to a bird’s survival. From a place to nest to a source of food in the way of seeds and insects, Oak trees native to your region make for a great contribution to the local avian ecosystem.

Nature Hills Nursery has a wider variety of plants available for your avian supporting needs available from our store. Feel free to check our store again after some research on what plants are native to your region!

Growing plants to help your local ecosystem is admirable and fulfilling. We applaud anyone attempting these growing pursuits and wish you the best of luck!

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do birds actually use hydrangeas for food, shelter, or nesting?

Hydrangeas offer limited direct food value for birds, but their dense branching structure provides excellent shelter and nesting sites, particularly for smaller songbirds like finches and sparrows. The dried seed heads of species like panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) can attract seed-eating birds in fall and winter, extending their usefulness beyond the blooming season. To maximize wildlife benefit, leave spent flower heads standing through winter rather than cutting them back in fall, and pair hydrangeas with berry-producing natives to give birds a more complete food source in your yard.

How do I set up a backyard habitat that attracts and supports birds year-round?

To create a thriving backyard bird habitat, focus on planting a mix of native trees, shrubs, and flowers that provide food and shelter across all seasons, since native plants support the specific insects and berries local birds have evolved to rely on. Prioritize plants that offer persistent fruit or seeds into winter, which is especially critical in USDA zones 4 and below where food sources become scarce. Layer your plantings by combining canopy trees for nesting and shelter with understory shrubs for foraging to mimic a natural ecosystem structure. Browse Nature Hills' regionally curated plant selection to find native species suited to your specific zone that will keep birds fed, sheltered, and returning to your yard all year long.

Which plants are most effective at attracting a wide variety of backyard birds?

Native plants are the most effective choice for attracting a wide variety of backyard birds, as they support the specific insects and food sources local bird species have evolved to depend on. Trees, shrubs, and flowering plants that produce berries, seeds, or nectar provide multiple food sources across different seasons, which is especially important for non-migratory birds that need reliable winter nutrition. Focus on layering your plantings with a mix of canopy trees, mid-story shrubs, and ground-level cover to offer both food and shelter. Browse Nature Hills' regionally appropriate native plant selections to find the best options suited to your specific growing zone and climate.

Which native plants do the best job of attracting backyard birds in different regions of the country?

The best native plants for attracting birds vary by region, but some reliable performers include Eastern Red Cedar and American Holly in the East, Desert Willow and Toyon in the Southwest, Red Osier Dogwood across the Northern states, and Pacific Wax Myrtle along the West Coast. Native plants outperform non-natives because local insects have evolved alongside them, making them far richer sources of the caterpillars and invertebrates that birds depend on, especially during nesting season. Browse the Nature Hills catalog filtered by your USDA Hardiness Zone to find regionally appropriate natives that will provide food, shelter, and year-round support for your local bird populations.

Should I start with trees, shrubs, or flowers when building a bird-friendly garden from scratch?

Starting with trees is generally the best foundation, as they provide the most critical combination of shelter and food sources while taking the longest to mature, so planting them early gives them a head start. Once your trees are established, layer in native shrubs to fill the mid-level canopy and provide additional berries and nesting cover. Finish with native flowering plants to round out your garden and support the insects that birds rely on for protein. Focus on plants native to your specific region at each stage, as locally adapted species will better support the particular birds and insects in your area.

Which plants produce the most berries, seeds, or nectar to keep birds fed through the seasons?

Native shrubs and trees are your best bet for season-long bird feeding, with species like American Holly holding berries well into winter, serviceberries ripening in early summer, and native viburnums producing fruit from late summer through fall. Coneflowers and black-eyed Susans offer seed heads that goldfinches and chickadees rely on heavily once temperatures drop, while tubular native flowers like trumpet honeysuckle keep hummingbirds fueled with nectar from spring through frost. For continuous coverage, layer your plantings with a combination of early-fruiting shrubs, mid-season seed producers, and late-holding berry trees so there is never a gap in your birds' food supply. Browse Nature Hills' selection of region-appropriate natives to find the right combination for your hardiness zone and get them in the ground this season.

Which plants support the most insects that birds rely on to feed their nestlings?

Native oaks (Quercus spp.) are the undisputed champions for supporting insect life, hosting over 500 species of caterpillars and other insects that birds depend on to feed their protein-hungry nestlings. Native cherries (Prunus spp.) and native willows (Salix spp.) also rank among the top insect-supporting trees across a wide range of growing zones. To maximize your impact during the critical spring and summer nesting season, focus on planting at least one native oak or cherry suited to your specific region, and visit naturehills.com to find the right species for your hardiness zone.

How many plants should I group together so birds actually recognize and use them?

Grouping plants in clusters of three to five of the same species is generally recommended, as birds are more likely to recognize and visit a reliable, concentrated food or shelter source than isolated plantings. Larger groupings also create the visual mass and layered canopy structure that signals safety and habitat to passing birds. For best results, arrange your clusters with taller trees at the back, mid-size shrubs in the middle, and low groundcover or perennials at the front to mimic natural habitat edges. Start with native species suited to your hardiness zone and plant in spring or fall to give roots time to establish before birds begin their seasonal routines.

Which bird-friendly plants work well for gardeners who want low-maintenance landscaping?

Native plants are almost always your best bet for low-maintenance, bird-friendly landscaping, since they have naturally adapted to your region's soil, rainfall, and climate conditions. Shrubs like native viburnums and winterberry holly thrive across a wide range of hardiness zones, require minimal care after establishment, and produce berries that sustain birds well into winter. Browse Nature Hills' regionally filtered plant selections to find species native to your area that will feed and shelter local birds without demanding constant upkeep.

How do I design a layered bird garden using groundcovers, shrubs, and trees together?

To design a layered bird garden, start by placing your tallest native trees at the back or perimeter to provide canopy cover and nesting sites, then fill the middle layer with native shrubs like viburnums or serviceberries that offer berries and dense branching for shelter. At ground level, native groundcovers and low-growing plants complete the habitat by providing insects, seeds, and additional cover for ground-feeding birds. Focus on selecting plants native to your specific region, as native species support the local insects that birds depend on for food far better than ornamental imports. Visit naturehills.com to browse native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers suited to your hardiness zone and start building your layered bird habitat today.