Landscape Ideas for Flowers in a Birdbath Garden

Native Flowers

• Local birds are likely to be attracted to flowers that are native to your area. Not only do exotic flowers require more attention, surrounding birds may fail to recognize them as sources of food and shelter. Look for plants that are common to your area and spend your energy helping them look their best instead of fighting to keep exotic plants alive.

Easy Transitions

• Birds are often scared away by abrupt transitions from forests to grass. Instead of letting grass take up the bulk of the space in your backyard, surround the area with trees, shrubs, wildflowers and tall meadow grasses. Gradually taper down to grassy areas to give your lawn a more natural feel. Place the birdbath near trees rather than out in the open.

Bright Flowers

• Include plenty of bright, fragrant flowers throughout your landscape. Birds love asters, evening primrose, bell flowers, phlox, daylilies, hollyhocks, zinnias, petunias, four o'clocks, coral bells, cardinal flowers, prairie clovers, foxgloves, Mexican sunflowers, milkweed and snapdragons. If you want to attract hummingbirds, include red columbines, red trumpet honeysuckles and butterfly weed.

Flowering Trees

• Don't limit yourself to small flowering plants. Include plenty of flowering trees, as well. A few varieties that attract birds are dogwood, redbud, laurels, buckthorn, crab apple, magnolias, mountain ash, sassafras, sparkleberry and yellow wood. Hang birdhouses at different heights throughout the trees. Not only will these provide more permanent shelter for birds, they'll help add to the décor of your yard.

Food-Bearing Flowers

• While you're shopping for trees, get a few fruiting trees and shrubs. Mulberry, blackberry, wild grapes, cherry and plum are especially appealing to birds. These will draw birds of all kinds into your yard by providing food. Birds can also eat the seeds of sunflowers, asters and thistles, so plant some of them too.